Staten Island - Free & a Few Paid Summer Concerts 2023
Free Things To Do on Staten Island NYC
June 7, 2023 / Staten Island Neighborhoods / Staten Island Free Summer Outdoor Concerts NYC / Staten Buzz NYC.
Summer has unofficially begun. A number of community groups in collaboration with the NYC Parks Department and frequently with some measure of various levels of government funding, have put together a summer full of films and free summer concerts in the parks. The free concerts listed below are designed for young and old alike and they're FREE.
Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibit and Filipino & Israeli Parades in Manhattan; Queens Pride Parade & Party, Two Dance Festivals & a Food Fest in Queens; BAM Dance Africa Festival & Greek Festival begins next week in Brooklyn; City Island Art Fair, Sound Performing Arts Fest & Feast of St. Anthony begins next week in the Bronx; Figment Fest, South Shore Arts Fair and SI Mall Carnival on Staten Island
NYC Weather. The temperature high will hit 90 on Friday, before descending down to around 70 for Saturday and Sunday. The temperature low will rise to about 60 before falling back into the mid 50's the rest of the weekend. Winds will be 7 - 13 mph all weekend. The humidity will be 40% - 60% on Friday and Sunday, staying at 60% on Saturday. There's a scant chance of a scant amount of precipitation on Friday. Looks like a pretty good weather weekend.
MOSTLY DONE. Might add things through the weekend.
Mayor Adams & The People's Money
This week the Mayor announced that a participatory budgeting effort is underway. Here's a link to his description of how it works - Mayor Adams wants New Yorkers to help allocate resources - and here is a link to the City website - The People's Money - where you can participate in allocating money to the causes in your community that you care about.
Mostly Free Things To Do This Weekend in Manhattan NYC
Saturday & Sunday, June 3 & 4, 2023 from 12 noon to 6 pm - The Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibit in the Village runs along University Place from East 13th Street and continuing south along the east side of Washington Square Park to West 3rd Street. The southern end of the show encompasses Schwartz Plaza, (aka Bobkin Lane), between NYU's Shimkin Hall and Bobst Library. It's a unique art show attracting exhibitors from all over & runs two weekends. For details see - https://www.wsoae.org/
Sunday, June 4, 2023 - 10 am - 6 pm - Philippine Independence Parade & Fair - The parade begins at noon along Madison Avenue starting at 38th south to 26th Street where it ends about 2.30 pm. The Street Fair & Festival is along Madison Square Park between 24th and 26th Streets in Midtown NYC. For details see - https://pidci.org
Sunday June 4, 2023 from 11 am - 4 pm - Israeli Celebration Parade - Along 5th Avenue between 57th Street and 74th Street. Upper East Side NYC parades Manhattan. For details see - https://celebrateisraelny.org/
Mostly Free Things To Do This Weekend in Queens NYC
Saturdays, June 3, 10, 17 & 24, 2023 - Annual Jamaica Dance Festival - Begins at 7 pm - In Rufus King Park on Jamaica Avenue at 150th Street. Free dance performances by local performers. Street fairs in Jamaica NY. For details see - https://thejamaicadancefestival.com/
Saturday, June 3, 2023 from 3 - 7 pm - Queens Boro Dance Festival - The performances take place hourly along 34th Avenue between 69th and 92nd Streets in Jackson Heights / Corona, with the last one beginning at 6 pm in Travers Park which is located between 77th and 78th Streets. Free. For details see - https://queensborodancefestival.org
Sunday, June 4, 2023 from 11 am to 6 pm - Queens Pridefest - The parade begins at 12 noon at 89th Street, marching west along 37th Avenue to 75th Street. It ends at 37th Road where there's a festival from 73rd to 77th Street and in Diversity Plaza. Organized by Queens Pridefest. For details see - https://newqueenspride.org
Sunday, June 4, 2023 from 2 - 6 pm _ The Annual Bell Blvd Food Festival in Bayside. Along Bell Blvd between 39th and 35th Avenues in Bayside Queens. Sample over 35 Bayside restaurants for a $1 per taste [Advance Tickets $15 - $35 / Day of $20 - $45]. There will also be live music and drinks available for purchase separately. For details see - http://baysidevillagebid.com/
Mostly Free Things To Do This Weekend in Brooklyn NYC
Saturday through Sunday, May 13 - June 11, 2023 - Dance Africa Festival at BAM - At 30 Lafayette Avenue at Ashland Place - in the Peter Jay Sharp Building and Howard Gilman Opera House in the Brooklyn Academy of Music in Fort Greene neighborhood of Brooklyn. It's a performance festival featuring African culture. Tickets start at $35 for adults and $22 for kids. For details see www.bam.org. This is NOT a street fair, but there is a bazaar day, but it is mostly musical, theatrical and cultural dance performances.
Monday - Sunday, June 5 - 11, 2023. From 11 am - 9 pm daily. 45th Annual Greek Festival at the Saints Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Cathedral at 64 Schermerhorn Street between Court Street and Boerum Place. The event has rides, entertainment, food and shopping. Organized by the St Constantine & Helen Cathedral. For details see - https://stconstantinecathedral.org. Greek cultural festivals in Brooklyn Heights NYC.
Mostly Free Things To Do This Weekend in the Bronx NYC
June 3 & 4, 2023 - City Island Art Fair - Along City Island Avenue near Hawkins Park and the Chamber of Commerce. City Island street fairs and festivals in the Bronx NYC.
Fridays & Saturdays, June 2 & 3, 9 & 10, 16 & 17, 23 & 24, 2023 from 7.30 - 8.45 pm - The 20th Annual Bronx River Sounds Performing Arts Festival at at the Bronx River Art Center at 1087 East Tremont Avenue in the West Farms neighborhood of the Bronx. For $10, $15 & $20 tickets and more details see - https://www.bronxriverart.org/
Wednesday - Sunday, June 7 - 11, 2023 from 5 pm to 9 pm weekdays & from 12 noon - 7 pm on Saturday & Sunday - The Feast of St. Anthony. It's the annual Feast of St Anthony at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church at 627 East 187th Street at Arthur Avenue. The triangle of streets along Cresent and Arthur Avenues & 187th Street in the Little Italy section of the Belmont neighborhood in the Bronx will be celebrating the Feast of St. Anthony with a street fair with rides, games, raffles, food and entertainment every night. Officially the street fair is being held along East 187th street from Arthur to Beaumont Avenue, and along Crescent from Cambreleng to Belmont Avenue. Historically there had been a procession, which this year [2023] begins at 1.15 pm following the high noon Sunday Mass. For details see - https://www.bronxlittleitaly.com. The church website is - https://sapbronx.com/ - but I couldn't find any info about this on it.
Mostly Free Things To Do This Weekend on Staten Island NYC
Thursday, May 25 - Sunday, June 11, 2023 there's the SI Mall Carnival at the Staten Island Mall at 2655 Richmond Avenue in the Heartland Village / New Springville neighborhoods of Staten Island. The carnival which includes rides, prize games and food is open weekdays from 5 to 10 pm, opening at 1 pm on Saturdays & Sundays and Memorial Day. Tickets are $5 for entry, and $30 weekdays and $38 weekends per person for unlimited rides and $100 / $125 for four persons unlimited rides weekdays / weekends. For details see - https://www.statenislandmall.com
Saturday & Sunday, June 3 & 4, 2023 from 10 am - 10 pm & 10 am - 6 pm - Figment Festival is not a shopping event, but a community interaction event. The idea is to use the 'figment' of your imagination when participating in communal projects, workshop and classes. At the Snug Harbor Cultural Center at 1000 Richmond Terrace on Staten Island. For details see - https://snug-harbor.org.
Sunday, June 4, 2023 from 11 am - 4 pm - South Shore Artists Group 55th Annual Exhibit - at the Conference House Park at 7455 Hylan Blvd in the Tottenville neighborhood of Staten Island. This is a unique arts & crafts for sale event. St fairs / art festivals in the Tottenville neighborhood of Staten Island. For details see - https://www.facebook.com/ConferenceHouse/
Opening Dates, Hours, Items & How To Shop - Staten Island Farmers Markets SI
June 1, 2023 / Staten Island Neighborhoods / Food, Wine & Restaurants on Staten Island / Staten Island Shops & Shopping / Staten Buzz NYC.
This report contains the opening dates, times / hours, items / selection, as well as links to online maps of all major Staten Island farmer markets, including address locations on Staten Island.
The Staten Island farmers markets on this page are located in or around the Staten Island neighborhoods of St. George, Snug Harbor, West Brighton, Heartland Village, Fort Wadsworth, Manor Heights, Clifton, Mariners Harbor, Historic Richmond Town, South Beach, Tompkinsville, Westerleigh, Stapleton, Port Richmond and Tottenville.
Enjoy shopping and eating the fresh and natural foods and product of our local farmers and food manufacturers.
Memorial Day Weekend, Fleet Week, Beaches Open, Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibit, Harlem International Film Fest, Losaida Festival & LES Festival of the Arts in Manhattan; Memorial Day Parades in Queens; Atlantic Avenue Art Walk, BAM Dance Africa Festival & Memorial Day Parades in Brooklyn; 152nd Puerto Rican Cultural Festival, Orchard Beach Opens & City Island Memorial Day Parade in the Bronx; SI Mall Carnival, Fleet Week & Memorial Day Parade on Staten Island and Updating Open Calls & Weekend Events Calendar
NYC Weather. The temperature highs will be in the mid to high 70's and the temperature lows will be around 60. No rain is in the forecast.
We're still working on the open calls and the community & small business grants page, as well as updating the events calendars. It's a focus of ours over the next couple of weeks, so you should see some good improvement by late May / early June.
The photo at right shows a scene from Washington Square Park this week. The Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibit / Fair returns this weekend.
Mayor Adams & The People's Money
This week the Mayor announced that a participatory budgeting effort is underway. Here's a link to his description of how it works - Mayor Adams wants New Yorkers to help allocate resources - and here is a link to the City website - The People's Money - where you can participate in allocating money to the causes in your community that you care about.
Mostly Free Things To Do This Weekend in Manhattan NYC
Thursday - Sunday, May 18 - 28, 2023 at various times - the Harlem International Film Festival. At AMC Magic Johnson Harlem 9 Theatres at 2309 Frederick Douglass Blvd in Harlem. For details and tickets see - https://harlemfilmfestival.org/.
PIER 88 & 90 & INTREPID AIR & SPACE MUSEUM _ Tuesday, May 23 - Tuesday, May 30, 2023 - Fleet Week. Use link below to view Manhattan Parades & events details.
Saturday, Sunday & Monday, May 27, 28 & 29, 2023 from 12 noon to 6 pm - The Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibit in the Village runs along University Place from East 13th Street and continuing south along the east side of Washington Square Park to West 3rd Street. The southern end of the show encompasses Schwartz Plaza, (aka Bobkin Lane), between NYU's Shimkin Hall and Bobst Library. It's a unique art show attracting exhibitors from all over & runs two weekends - see below.*
Friday, Saturday & Sunday, May 26, 27, 28, 2023 - the Lower East Side Festival for the Arts runs Friday through Sunday at the Theater for the New City at 155 First Avenue between East 9th & 10th Streets on 1st Avenue in the East Village. The event runs from 6 pm - 1 am Friday, on Saturday there's an outside cultural street fair from 12 noon to 6 pm, in tandem and also followed by theater from 1 pm - 12 midnight, and on Sunday from 6 pm - 12 midnight. Numerous performances by many of the 200 local artists, actors, musicians, dancers and performers associated with the theater. Free admission, donations welcome. For details see - https://theaterforthenewcity.net
Sunday, May 28, 2023 from 12 noon to 5 pm - The 36th Annual Losaida Festival - Along Avenue C between 6th and 12th streets on the Lower East Side. Set up begins at 10 am and the fair includes art, entertainment, food and shopping. Street fairs on the Lower East Side. For details see - https://loisaida.org
Additional Memorial Day Weekend events [see link below for Manhattan Fleet Week events] coming throughout the weekend.
The photo at right shows the creation of a grafitti artist adorning a construction site in NYC.
Mostly Free Things To Do This Weekend in Queens NYC
Saturday, May 27, 2023 from 12 noon - 5 pm - Sunnyside Gardens Park Memorial Day Fair - In the park at 39th Ave at 49th Street in Sunnyside. Open to General Public and includes kids activities, arts, crafts, food & rides.
Sunday, May 28, 2023 from 2 pm, the 101st College Point Memorial Day Parade. Use link below to view Queens Parades & events details.
Sunday, May 28, 2023 from 1 - 3 pm, the Maspeth Memorial Day Parade. Use link below to view Queens Parades & events details.
Sunday, May 28, 2023 from 12 noon - 2 pm, the American Legion Forest Hills Memorial Day Weekend Parade. Use link below to view Queens Parades & events details.
Monday, May 29, 2023 the Douglaston - Little Neck Memorial Day Parade. Use link below to view Queens Parades & events details.
Monday, May 29, 2023 from 11 am - 1 pm the Ridgewood / Glendale Myrtle Avenue Memorial Day Parade. Use link below to view Queens Parades & events details.
Monday, May 29, 2023 from 11.30 am - 2 pm the Whitestone Memorial Day Parade. Use link below to view Queens Parades & events details.
Additional Memorial Day Weekend events [see link below for all Queens Memorial Day parades] coming throughout the weekend. Also see street fairs and you can scroll down for other suggestions.
Mostly Free Things To Do This Weekend in Brooklyn NYC
Saturday through Sunday, May 13 - June 11, 2023 - Dance Africa Festival at BAM - At 30 Lafayette Avenue at Ashland Place - in the Peter Jay Sharp Building and Howard Gilman Opera House in the Brooklyn Academy of Music in Fort Greene neighborhood of Brooklyn. It's a performance festival featuring African culture. Tickets start at $35 for adults and $22 for kids. For details see www.bam.org. This is NOT a street fair, but there is a bazaar day, but it is mostly musical, theatrical and cultural dance performances.
Saturday - Sunday, May 20 - 28, 2023 - The Atlantic Avenue Art Walk. A free, self-guided tour through Brooklyn Heights, Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill and Downtown Brooklyn. For details see their posting in our Brooklyn Events - Member Calendar - or visit the sponsor's website at - https://www.atlanticave.org/artwalk.
BAY RIDGE _ Monday, May 29, 2023 at 11 am - The 155th Brooklyn / Bay Ridge Memorial Day Parade steps off on 3rd Avenue and 78th Street in Bay Ridge Brooklyn. The parade proceeds down to Marine Avenue, up to 4th Avenue, then over to John Paul Jones Park for their memorial service which includes bag pipes, flag raising and wreath laying by Veteran Service Organizations. This is followed by a 21-gun salute and the playing of Taps by the Veteran Corps of Artillery. For details see - https://www.brooklynmemorialdayparade.com/
CARNARSIE _ Saturday, May 27, 2023 - Memorial Day Parade. Use link below to view Brooklyn Parades details.
FORT HAMILTON _ Tuesday, May 23 - Tuesday, May 30, 2023 - Fleet Week. Use link below to view Brooklyn Parades & events details.
Additional Memorial Day Weekend events [see link below for Bk Memorial Day parades] coming throughout the weekend. Also see street fairs and you can scroll down for other suggestions.
The photo above right shows another scene from Washington Square Park.
Mostly Free Things To Do This Weekend in the Bronx NYC
Saturday, May 27, 2023 from 11 am - 6 pm. Annual 152nd Street Cultural Festival / which is the Official National Puerto Rican Day Parade Street Festival - Along 152nd Street between [Prospect & Westchester Ave] Jackson & Tinton in the Longwood / Melrose neighborhoods of the Bronx. It's one of the largest Puerto Rican street festivals in NYC. The National Puerto Rican Day Parade is held a week later in Manhattan.
Saturday, May 27, 2023 - Orchard Beach Opens for the Summer.
Saturday, May 27, 2023 - from 1 - 7 pm - Bronx Night Market - in Fordham Plaza at East Fordham Road and Third Avenue across from the Metro North Railway Station. This is mostly a food market versus a street fair in the Fordham neighborhood of the Bronx.
Monday, May 29, 2023 from 2 - 4 pm - City Island Memorial Day Parade & Festival. Use link below to view Bronx Parades & events details.
Additional Memorial Day Weekend events [see link below for Bx Memorial Day parade] coming throughout the weekend. Also see street fairs and you can scroll down for other suggestions.
The photo at right shows an Earth woman and at left an alien woman, or perhaps AI?
Mostly Free Things To Do This Weekend on Staten Island NYC
Tuesday, May 23 - Tuesday, May 30, 2023 - Fleet Week at the Home Port Pier at 305 Front Street in the Stapleton neighborhood. Use link below to view Manhattan Parades & events details.
Monday, May 29, 2023 - The Memorial Day Parade in West Brighton. Use link below to view Staten Island Parades & events details.
May 25 - June 11, 2023 there's an SI Mall Carnival at the Staten Island Mall at 2655 Richmond Avenue in the Heartland Village / New Springville neighborhoods of Staten Island. The carnival which includes rides, prize games and food is open weekdays from 5 to 10 pm, opening at 1 pm on Saturdays & Sundays and Memorial Day. Tickets are $5 for entry, and $35 per person for [I think unlimited] weekday rides and $85 for four persons. For details see www.statenislandmall.com.
Additional Memorial Day Weekend events [see link below for SI Memorial Day parade & Fleet Week events] coming throughout the weekend. Also see street fairs and you can scroll down for other suggestions.
This is a report containing things to do on Staten Island over the Memorial Day Weekend.
Weather. The temperature highs will be in the mid to high 70's and the temperature lows will be around 60. No rain is in the forecast.
The things to do on Staten Island on Memorial Day Weekend include art exhibitions, theater, live music, comedy, dance, shopping, outdoor activities such as soccer, kyaking, baseball, parades, street fairs, museums and dining in the Castleton, Stapleton, Richmond Town, Great Kills, Rossville, Tompkinsville near St. George, Westerleigh & South Beach neighborhoods neighborhoods on Staten Island in NYC.
Be sure to check our Memorial Day Weekend things to do post mid afternoon Friday of Memorial Day Weekend.
Brief History of the Memorial Day Holiday on Staten Island
Memorial Day first started out as Decoration Day in Waterloo, New York on May 30, 1866 - a year after the Civil War - to honor those who fought in it. In the 1880's the day came to be known as Memorial Day.
According to a May 25, 2012 report in Time Magazine, ten states - Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, North and South Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee also officially observe some version of a Confederate Memorial Day, sometime between late April and early June [in Texas it's in January]. It's been reported that unofficially most of the former Confederate states still commemorate it, but not without some controversy as to the former Confederate diaspora it's to honor their ancestors, while to the former diaspora of the slaves it seems a remnant of these states racist past.
About ten percent of the nation travels more than 50 miles over the weekend. Memorial Day differs from Veterans Day which is held on November 11th of each year. Veterans Day began by honoring those who fought in World War I which ended on the 11th hour, of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. Both honor those who served in the U.S. Military. Veterans Day coincides with a similar holiday in Europe for the same reason, which is called Remembrance Day and Armistice Day.
Dance & Asian American PI Parades; Clio, Frieze & Contemporary African Art Fairs; Taste of Tribeca & 9th Avenue International Food Fests; Ukrainian Festival, Harlem International Film Fest & AIDS Walk in Manhattan; Downtown Jazz Fest in Jamaica, Greek Fest in Astoria, LIC Arts Open & 'Big Love' in Long Island City, Eight Tales of Pedro & Jamaica Jazz Fest in Queens; Bayfest, Norweigan Parade, Fabulous 5th Avenue Fest, Filipino Fair, Atlantic Ave Art Walk, Other Art Fair & BAM Dance Africa Festival in Brooklyn; Bronx Fashion Week, Vegan Street Fair & Bronx Week Ending in the Bronx; Cottage Row Curiosities Market & the Great Staten Island Lighthouse Hunt & Updating Open Calls
NYC Weather. The temperature highs will be in the mid 60's on Friday and Saturday, rising to about 80 on Sunday. The temperature lows will be around 60 all weekend. The humidity will rise from 50% on Friday to 80% on Saturday, before falling back to 50% on Sunday. Winds will be 10 - 15 mph on Friday, falling to 5 - 10 mph for the rest of the weekend. There's a 65% chance of some rain [a 1/4 inch] before 3 pm on Saturday.
There are also a few more events to add, but this is a solid first pass of the major events this weekend, allowing that there are a couple of things that need updating for Queens.
The photo at right was taken at the Ukrainian Festival in a prior year. The festival runs through this weekend in the East Village. See details below.
We're still working on the open calls and the community & small business grants page, as well as updating the events calendars. It's a focus of ours over the next couple of weeks, so you should see some good improvement by late May / early June.
Mostly Free Things To Do This Weekend in Manhattan NYC
Wednesday - Sunday, May 17 - 21, 2023 _ Freize Art Fair at the Shed at 545 West 30th Street at Hudson Yard - From 11 am - 5.30 pm on Friday, 12 noon - 5.30 pm Saturday, 11 am - 3.30 pm Sunday. Tickets range from $40 - $140 for adults & kids cost $10 at https://www.frieze.com/.
Thursday - Sunday, May 18 - 21, 2023 - the 1 - 54 Contemporary African Art Fair beginning at 11 am daily and ending at 7 pm Friday & Saturday and at 5 pm on Sunday. At 439 West 127th Street in Harlem. The fair hosts the exhibits of 26 galleries. For details and $20 tickets, see - https://www.1-54.com.
Thursday - Sunday, May 18 - 28, 2023 at various times - the Harlem International Film Festival. At AMC Magic Johnson Harlem 9 Theatres at 2309 Frederick Douglass Blvd in Harlem. For details and tickets see - https://harlemfilmfestival.org/.
Thursday - Thursday, May 18 - 25, 2023 - NYC X Design. This is at various venues at various times. It's all about the many facets of design - from workshops to exhibits to markets. Every day is chuck full of events - see www.nycxdesign.org for details. Many events are free.
Last year the NYC X Design program included an art tour in LIC Queens on Friday and there's plenty more at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and the Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan.
Thursday - Sunday, May 18 - 21, 2023 - Clio Art Fair - from 6 - 9 pm Thursday, 12 noon - 8 pm Friday, 2 - 8 pm Saturday & 2 - 6 pm Sunday. They are also hosting Saturday and Sunday brunches from 12 noon - 2 pm. At 550 West 29th Street in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan NYC.
Friday, Saturday & Sunday, May 19 - 21, 2022 begins 4 pm Friday & at 12 noon Saturday & Sundayending at 9 pm nightly -Ukranian Festival - At 30 East 7th Street and along 7th Street between 2nd Avenue and 3rd Avenue in the East Village. Includes Ukranian shopping, food and entertainment with the proceeds going to St. George Academy, which is a Ukrainian school. For details and further information see - https://www.facebook.com/StGeorgesUkrainianFestivalNYC/ . See photo at right.
Saturday, May 20, 2023 the Taste of Tribeca runs from 11.30 am - 3 pm along Duane Street between Greenwich and Hudson Streets in Tribeca. Sometimes up to 80 Tribeca [and nearby] food and beverage vendors come out to serve the public. Note that this is a food festival not a street fair per se. Proceeds benefit PS 150 and PS 234. Tickets run from $60 on up, and they have lower cost group rates. For details see - https://www.tasteoftribeca.com/. See this story about the Taste of Tribeca St Fair.
Saturday, May 20, 2023 the Dance Parade begins at 12 noon at 20th Street and Broadway. It marches down along Broadway and University to Washington Square Park where it turns [left] east on 8th Street and heads into Tompkins Square Park in the East Village. A Dance Festival follows the Dance Parade in Tompkins Square Park in the East Village from 3 - 7 pm. Free. For details see - https://danceparade.org/
Saturday & Sunday, May 20 & 21, 2023 from 10 am - 6 pm. 9th Avenue International Food Festival - Along 9th Ave between 42nd Street & 57th Street. For details see - http://ninthavenuefoodfestival.com/
Sunday, May 21, 2023 beginning at 7.30 / 8 am - AIDS Walk / Run in Central Park. The Naumberg Bandshell just south of the Bethesda Fountain is the hub of all activities. Enter the park from east or west at 72nd Street. It's a four mile walk / run around the interior of the park. Free to enter. Donations go to support the Gay Men's Health Crisis [GMHC]. For details see - https://aidswalkny.org
Sunday, May 21, 2023 from 12 noon - 3 pm - Asian American Pacific Islander Parade - 2nd parade - AAPI is comprised of thirty ethnic groups, speaking 50 different languages. Marching up 6th Avenue from West 44th to West 53rd streets in Midtown. For details see - https://aaari.info
Sunday, May 21, 2023 from 12 noon - 6 pm - Greek Jewish Festival on [the center is at 280] Broome Street between Allen and Eldridge Streets on the Lower East Side [LES]. "Authentic kosher Greek foods, homemade Greek pastries, traditional Greek dancing, live Greek and Sephardic music and ... vendors". LES street fairs on the Lower East Side. For details see - https://www.kkjsm.org or https://www.kkjfestival.com/
Mostly Free Things To Do This Weekend in Queens NYC
Saturday, May 20, 2023 from 12 noon - 5 pm - LIC Springs Festival - Along Vernon Blvd between 46th and 50th Avenues. There will be music, dance and performances, as well as fitness, food and games. Street fairs in LIC Queens NYC. For details see - https://www.longislandcityqueens.com/
Thru Saturday, May 20, 2023 at 2.30 & 7.30 pm, performances of 'Big Love'at the LaGuardia College Performing Arts Center at 31-10 Thomson Avenue in Long Island City. For details and tickets see - https://www.lpac.nyc.
Friday & Saturday, May 19 & 20, 2023 from 6.30 - 10 and 12 noon - 8.30 pm _ Downtown Jamaica Jazz Festival in Queens. They have nearly a dozen performances scheduled each day at the Jamaica Performing Arts Center at 153-10 Jamaica Avenue in the Jamaica neighborhood of Queens. Jazz festivals in Queens.
Thursday thru Sunday, May 1 - 21, 2023 / Open Galleries Saturday & Sunday from 12 noon - 5 pm & other times / events - LIC Arts Open Studios. LIC Arts Open is an event whereby LIC artists open their studios to the public for this long weekend, which started Thursday. As they're artists, they sometimes forge their own hours, so it's best to check the site using the link info that follows. Admission to open studios is free, possibly some exceptions, but not likely. Opportunity to visit artists' studios as well as some performances. For details see - https://licartsopen.com/
Thursday through Sunday, May 18 - 21, 2023 runs 5 pm - 11 pm Thursday & Friday, and 1 - 11 pm Saturday & ending at 10 pm Sunday - 49th Annual Greek Festival at St Demetrios Church on 31st Avenue and 30th Drive. Old fashioned town fair including traditional Greek food, good rides and prizes for the kids, and Greek cultural music and dance entertainment. Click here for St Demetrios street fair map. 718.728.1718.
LAST WEEKEND, after having been extended for two more weekends, thru 5/21/23. Originally _ Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays, beginning April 28 - May 7, 2023 at 8 pm on Fridays & Saturdays and at 2 pm and 3 pm respectively on Saturdays and Sundays, there's a performance of Eight Tales of Pedro at the Queens Theatre in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. It's an original work developed in tandem with Queens Theatre. For details and $24 tickets see - https://queenstheatre.org/
Mostly Free Things To Do This Weekend in Brooklyn NYC
Saturday through Sunday, May 13 - June 11, 2023 - Dance Africa Festival at BAM - At 30 Lafayette Avenue at Ashland Place - in the Peter Jay Sharp Building and Howard Gilman Opera House in the Brooklyn Academy of Music in Fort Greene neighborhood of Brooklyn. It's a performance festival featuring African culture. Tickets start at $35 for adults and $22 for kids. For details see www.bam.org. This is NOT a street fair, but there is a bazaar day, but it is mostly musical, theatrical and cultural dance performances.
Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday, May 18 - 21, 2023 from 6 - 10 pm, 4 - 10 pm, 11 am 7 pm & 11 am - 6 pm respectively - The Other Art Fair. At the Agger Fish Building in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. There will be performances and art installations, including artworks by 110 different artists. For details and $14 - $24 tickets see - https://www.theotherartfair.com .
Saturday - Sunday, May 20 - 28, 2023 - The Atlantic Avenue Art Walk. A free, self-guided tour through Brooklyn Heights, Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill and Downtown Brooklyn. For details see their posting in our Brooklyn Events - Member Calendar - or visit the sponsor's website at - https://www.atlanticave.org/artwalk.
Sunday, May 21, 2023 from 10 am - 6 pm, there's the Filipino Street Fair on 5th Avenue between 10th and 11th Streets in Park Slope. Filipino food, art and handicrafts will be featured.
Sunday, May 21, 2023 from 12 noon - 6 pm. Bayfest. At Emmons Avenue and East 27th Street in the Sheepshead Bay neighborhood of Brooklyn. Arts, crafts, amusement rides, bands, dance performances along the Brooklyn waterfront. Free. For details see - http://bigbayfest.org/
Sunday, May 21, 2023 from 11 am - 6 pm. Fabulous Fifth Avenue Street Fair. Along 5th Avenue between Sterling Place & 12th Street in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn. Brooklyn street fairs / St Fairs & festivals near the Gowanus neighborhood of Brooklyn. Organized by the Park Slope Fifth Avenue BID. There will be plenty of food offerings at the bars and restaurants along 5th, as well as live entertainment at many of the venues. This is more of a food fair that typical street fair. For details see - https://parkslopefifthavenuebid.com
Sunday, May 21, 2023 beginning at 1.30 pm - Norweigan Day Parade - The parade steps off at 80th Street and 3rd Avenue in Bay Ridge. The parade then turns right onto 75th Street [aka Bay Ridge Parkway], left onto 5th Avenue, to 67th Street and then along the Park - ending between 6th and 7th Avenues where the reviewing stand is. Street fairs in Bay Ridge Brooklyn NYC. For details see - https://17thofmayparadecommittee-brooklyn.org/
Mostly Free Things To Do This Weekend in the Bronx NYC
On Saturday, May 20, 2023 from 11 am - 7 pm there's a Vegan Street Fair in Rev T. Wendell Foster Park at 1055 Jerome Avenue in the Bronx. Tickets cost $4 per bite or $55 for the vegan food festival. Rides are separate at $8 / ride. For details see - https://www.veganstreetfair.com.
On Saturday, May 20, 2023 from 4 - 5 pm the Bronx Fashion Week will be at the Bay Plaza Mall at 200 Baychester Avenue in the Bronx. Models will be walking the runway. Admission ranges from $0 for standing room and $45 for VIP seating. For details and tickets see - https://www.bronxfashionweek.com.
Ends Sunday May 21, 2023 - Bronx Week - Multiple events at various locations in the Bronx. For details see - https://bronxboropres.nyc.gov/
Mostly Free Things To Do This Weekend on Staten Island NYC
UPDATE _ CHANGED TO SUNDAY, MAY 21 _ Saturday, May 20, 2023 from 11 am - 4 pm, there's the Cottage Row Curiosities at Snug Harbor Cultural Center at 1000 Richmond Terrace Street in the Randall Manor neighborhood of Staten Island. There will be over 40 local vendors selling artisanal goods, food, music, entertainment and information. https://snug-harbor.org
Maker Park Radio Record Fair has been moved to June 2023.
Sunday, May 21, 2023 from 10 am - 4 pm - The Great Staten Island Lighthouse Hunt. Begins at either the Postcards, which is the name of the Staten Island 911 Memorial, on Bank Street in St. George along the waterfront just west of the SI Ferry, or at the Conference House in Tottenville. The cost is $35 per carload or $15 per bicycle / motorcycle. Teams of three are recommended to drive, navigate and shoot photos.
This Staten Island Public Swimming Pool Report Includes Contact Info NYC
May 16, 2023 / Staten Island Neighborhoods / Staten Island Swimming Pools, Parks & Sports / Staten Buzz NYC.
Staten Island offers easy access to a wide range of recreational swimming pools. The following is an attempt to provide you with a view of the range of public swimming pools available in the parks of Staten Island. We encourage you to make use of these facilities because they provide healthy, fun, and frequently free or inexpensive entertainment for both individuals and families with children.
Staten Island outdoor public pools will open in late June 2023. A few of the indoor pools will be closed this summer to allow for construction and improvements.
Generally pool hours are from 11 am - 7 pm daily, with a one hour break between 3 and 4 pm for cleaning. Bring a padlock for your locker and proper swimming trunks are required [for boys this means not shorts as trunks must have liners]. Don't bring food, glass bottles, newspapers, electronics, floaters and no or as few valuables as you can bring to minimize your risk because the park isn't responsible for your losses. Free sunscreen will be made available while supplies last.
As of this posting 5.16.23, masks are no longer required for indoor activity including in the locker rooms, but stay tuned as it's possible that could change.
Happy Mothers Day Weekend, TEFAF Show, Indian Film Fest & Japan Parade in Manhattan, Eight Tales of Pedro, Taste of Queens Tuesday & Jamaica Jazz Fest Friday in Queens; Brooklyn Conservatory of Music Open Stages & BAM Dance Africa Festival in Brooklyn, Bronx Week in the Bronx; Arts & Crafts Show at the Staten Island Mall & Updating Open Calls
NYC Weather. The temperature highs will be around 90 on Friday, falling to 80 on Saturday and about 75 on Sunday. The temperature lows will be in the mid 60's on Friday, falling to about 60 on Saturday and possibly into the mid 50's on Sunday. Winds will be about 5 - 8 mph all weekend. The humidity will fall from 50% on Friday to 40% on Saturday and between 30% - 40% on Sunday. No rain is in the forecast for this weekend
The photo at right shows a rainy day this past week. It was nice to see some moisture return to the area, as up until very recently, it had been lacking thus far this year.
May 10, 2023 / Queens Neighborhoods / Queens Real Estate / News Analysis & Opinion / Queens Buzz / 1068.
NYS Assemblymember Jeffrion Aubrey has sponsored a bill to allow a billionaire to build a casino on Queens parkland. Why can't the billionaire buy his own land to build the casino? And why has Aubrey supported this public park land grab?
Staten Island Mothers Day Restaurants in or near Castleton, Stapleton, Richmond Town, Great Kills, Rossville, Tompkinsville near St. George, Westerleigh & South Beach Neighborhoods of Staten Island
Mother's Day will soon be upon us. It's a good time to let your loved ones know you care. Flowers, gifts and brunch or dinner are always welcome, as is any thoughtful gesture that provides some measure showing your appreciation of your mother or the mother of your children. After all, without mothers, we would all cease to be.
It's best to book a restaurant reservation early for Mother's Day brunch, as on Mother's Day on Staten Island, many restaurants are full. So if you're thinking about eating out at a restaurant this Mother's Day in or near Castleton, Stapleton, Richmond Town, Great Kills, Rossville, Tompkinsville near St. George, Westerleigh & South Beach neighborhoods; it's best to do your research early, and call ahead to book Mother's Day restaurant reservations.
Remember, restaurants also have additional capacity since the pandemic began, via all of those outdoor shanties built during the pandemic, which greatly increased overall space / seating capacity. And with the weather warming - the temperature is expected to be near 70 degrees on Mothers Day without rain, so outdoor dining is a pleasant, even welcome option.
But as the saying goes, the early bird gets the [worm] better seating, so book early.
Mother's Day History - Restaurants on Staten Island
The origins of Mother's Day in the United States began with the efforts by Anna Jarvis in honor of her own mother. According to Wikipedia, Anna began the campaign in 1905 - the year her mother died - and in 1910 West Virginia was the first state to adopt it as a holiday. In 1914 Woodrow Wilson made the second Sunday in May as a national holiday to honor mothers.
Click this link to view a brief guide of Mother's Day restaurants on Staten Island where you will find links to Staten Island restaurants we've researched, visited in the past or have reviewed. The restaurants we've reviewed include a mix of high, medium and budget priced restaurants that are spread throughout the borough and offer a large variety of ethnic cuisines.
Cinco de Mayo, Janes Walk and 5 Boro Bike Ride in all 5 Boros, Cannabis Parade & Festival in Manhattan, Eight Tales of Pedro in Queens; Luna Park in Brooklyn, Kentucky Derby at the Bartow Pell Mansion in the Bronx; Yankee Peddler Day on Staten Island & Moving Open Calls
NYC Weather. The temperature highs will be around 60 on Friday, then rising to 70 on Saturday and Sunday. The temperature lows will be around 50 on Friday rising slightly to the mid 50's by Sunday. Winds will be about 5 mph all weekend. The humidity will fall from 60% to 70% on Friday, to about 50% on Saturday and Sunday. No rain is in the forecast for this weekend
The photo at right shows a rainy day this past week. It was nice to see some moisture return to the area, as up until very recently, it had been lacking thus far this year.
Sikh Day and Greek Independence Day Parades & Anitquarian Book Fair in Manhattan, Eight Tales of Pedro, Irish & West Ghanaian Concert & Queens Symphony in Queens; Prospect Park Tour, Street Naming for MTA Member in Midwood & Luna Park in Brooklyn, Bronx Arts Ensemble Concert at the NYBG in the Bronx; Staten Island Ferry Hawks Home Opener All Weekend & Outdoor Markets on Staten Island, Moving Open Calls & Met Gala Monday
NYC Weather. The temperature highs will be around 60 all weekend long, while the temperature lows will be around 50 all weekend long. Winds will be 10 - 15 mph all weekend. The humidity will rise from 60% to 70% on Friday, rising to the mid 70% to mid 80% on Saturday, and rising to 80% - 90% on Sunday. There's about 2/3 of an inch of rain expected Saturday and another inch between 11 am - 11 pm on Sunday.
The photo at right, of the Greek Independence Day Parade, was taken a number of years back. The cultural pageantry references the lore of the heroics and democracy of ancient Greece.
Earth Day Weekend Events, Persian Day Parade in Manhattan; Ofrenda Fest in Queens; Invisible Dog Art Center & Luna Park in Brooklyn, 'Diamond' at Pregones & the Last Weekend for the NYBG Orchid Show in the Bronx; Jazz Concert & Jacques Tibetan Museum on Staten Island & Open Calls
NYC Weather. The temperature highs will be in the mid 60's all weekend long, while the temperature lows will be in the mid 50's on Friday and Saturday, falling to the high 40's on Sunday. Winds will be 10 - 15 mph all weekend. The humidity will rise from the mid 50% to mid 70% on Friday, rising to the mid 70% to mid 80% on Saturday, before falling back to around the mid 50% on Sunday. There's about 2/3 of an inch of rain expected Saturday after 6 pm and ending before 6 am Sunday. Otherwise, for the other parts of the weekend, no rain.
The photo at right captures some of the beauty and mystery of planet Earth. It was taken along an ancient Inca Trail in the Andes in Peru, not far from Macchu Picchu. We can learn a lot from the Incas, who were environmentally compatible engineers.
NYC Weather. The temperature highs will rise from about 60 on Tuesday, to the mid 60's Wednesday and Thursday, to the low to mid 70's on Friday and Saturday. The temperature lows will be in the mid 40's on Tuesday and Wednesday, rising to the mid 50's on Thursday and Friday. The winds will be about 10 - 15 mph on Tuesday and Wednesday, dropping to 5 - 10 mph on Thursday and Friday. The humidity will be about 40% on Tuesday and Wednesday, rising to 60 - 70% on Thursday and Friday. No rain is in the forecast all week long.
PRC [People's Republic of China] Caught Operating a 'Secret Police' in Chinatown in Manhattan
In October of 2022, the FBI obtained a search warrant to investigate an office on Broadway in Chinatown believed to be a 'secret police' station set up by dictator President Xi Jin Ping's Peoples Republic of China in order to control the behaviors of Chinese people living in the U.S. Two men were charged in the case. According to the Department of Justice, the two men who were arrested yesterday, are "... “Harry” Lu Jianwang, 61, of the Bronx, and Chen Jinping, 59, of Manhattan ...".
The 'secret police' office was closed after the two men discovered that the FBI was watching them. When conducting the search, the FBI reported that the memories of the two men's communications devices [aka evidence] were erased. The men are presumed innocent in this country until proven guilty. This is very much unlike the process we've seen in China, where one is guilty of whatever dictator president Xi Jin Ping decides they're guilty of.
I always marvel at the dishonesty of dictators who attempt to control what everyone thinks, because the truth can be deadly to them and their regimes. For example calling China the PRC - People's Republic of China - when the people have no say in who their leaders are, can be imprisoned or even terminated for speaking their minds, and can only own or operate a significant business if it's given a blessing by the dictator president. The PRC should be called the XDC - Xi's Dictatorship of China. Where everything is designed to suit one man, and nobody, and nothing else, matters. As dictator president Xi seems to say by his actions, "... It's all about Me, Me, Me, Me or Xi, Xi, Xi, Xi ...".
Orthodox Holy Friday & Easter Sunday in Queens, Brooklyn & Manhattan, International Auto Show, Tartan Day Parade in Manhattan; Lavender Laughs & Queens Night Market in Queens; Luna Park & BK Museum Pop Up Market in Brooklyn, Bronx Doc Film Editing Workshop Weekend, the Diamond at Pregones & NYBG Orchid Show in the Bronx; Staaten Eylandt Day, Cottage Curiosities, Iftar in the Park & Conference House Opens on Staten Island and , & Ramadan Ends Thursday
NYC Weather. The temperature highs will fall from the high 80's Friday to the mid 60's Saturday and the temperature lows will fall from the mid 60's Friday to the mid 50's by Sunday. The humidity will rise from a very dry 30% - 50% on Friday into the 70% - 80% on Saturday and Sunday. Winds will be 5 mph all weekend. There's a below 50% chance of rain on Saturday and the amount of rain is forecast to be a quarter of an inch or less, and spread out over the entire day, so you might get a little damp while out, but not soaked by any means. And on Sunday the expectations are well below 25% probable and the amount is less than 1/20th of an inch.
The photo at right was taken a few years back of the Greek Orthodox Holy Friday Procession at St. Demetrios Cathedral in Astoria Queens. It's an interesting cultural event and, in my mind, is one of the many diverse cultural events that makes NYC so interesting. See details regarding the event tonight [Friday] in Queens, Brooklyn and Manhattan below.
The Easter Bonnet Parade, Pickleball Court Opens at Wollman Rink, Auto Show at Javits, Final Week of Chain Theatre Performance, Fresh, Fly & Fabulous Exhibit at FIT in Manhattan; Chocolate Factory, Climate Change & Easter Egg Hunt & Party in Queens; Brooklyn Cyclones Home Opener & Rachel Wren Exhibit in Brooklyn [also Easter Egg Hunt on Governors Island], Easter Egg Hunt at the Mansion & NYBG Orchid Show in the Bronx; Easter Egg Hunts and Bonnett Tea Party on Staten Island, Easter Sunday and Passover & Ramadan Continue
NYC Weather. The temperature highs will fall from the high 50's Friday to the mid 50's Saturday and into the low 50's on Sunday. The temperature lows will be around 40. The winds will fall from 10 - 15 mph on Friday, to 5 mph on Saturday and to 5 - 10 mph on Sunday. The humidity will rise from about 35% on Friday, to 50% on Saturday, and ranging from 40% to 60% on Sunday. No precipitation is in the forecast.
The photo at right was taken at the Orchid Show at the NY Botanical Garden a few years ago.
Editor's Note. We're going to add more events that are happening this coming week on Monday, because NYC Public Schools are on Spring Break from Monday through Friday, April 10 - 14, 2023.
Very Brief Introduction to Christian Easter Traditions
On Friday, April 7th, Christians observe Good Friday, which is when the Bible tells us that Jesus died on the cross. On Sunday, April 9th, Christians celebrate the Biblical account of Jesus rising from the dead.
Emperor Constantine became the Roman Emperor in 306. In 324 Constantine made Christianity the official religion of the Empire. In 1054, the Great Schism occurred, wherein Christianity split into two different sects - Roman Catholic Christians [primarily in Western Europe] and Orthodox Christians [primarily in Eastern Europe]. The traditions have much in common, but one of the differences is in how they calculate the time of Good Friday and Easter Sunday. The Western European Christians [Protestants and Catholics] use the Gregorian Calendar which was created in the 16th century and made the official calendar by Pope Gregory, while the Orthodox Christians use the Julian Calendar which was made law in the Roman Empire in 45 B.C. by Julius Caesar.
Thus there are years where the Western European and Eastern Orthodox Easter events fall at the same time, and there years where they do not. This year [2023] the celebrations of the two traditions are separated by a week, with the Western European Christians celebrating next weekend and the Orthodox Christians celebrating a week later.
AIPAD Photography Show, Chain Theatre Performance Continues, Fresh, Fly & Fabulous Exhibit at FIT in Manhattan; Chocolate Factory & Armstrong at LeFrak, and Next Week Sculpture Center Gala & Mets Home Opener in Queens; Luna Amusement Park Opens & Rachel Wren Exhibit in Brooklyn, Pregones Music Fest Ends Friday, Bronx Art Space Exhibit Closing Reception Saturday, NYBG Orchid Show in the Bronx; 5K Run on Staten Island, Palm Sunday, Passover Wednesday & Ramadan Continues
NYC Weather. The temperature highs will rise from 50 on Friday, to 70 on Saturday, falling back to 50 on Sunday. The temperature lows will range between the mid and high 30's all weekend. The winds will range from 10 - 15 mph all weekend. The humidity will fall from about 80% Friday, to 70% Saturday to 40% Sunday. There will be scattered thunder showers Saturday ending around noon and with a brief return between 7 and 9 pm Saturday night, otherwise lookin' good.
The photos in this report were taken at an AIPAD show in a prior year. See below for details.
Staten Island Street Fairs begin in April. We've compiled one of THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCHEDULE of STATEN ISLAND street fairs including street fair TIMES & PHOTOS & maps, some street fair names & sponsors, and street fair maps to help you find your way around during the spring, summer and fall of 2023.
How This Staten Island Street Fair Page is Organized
The Staten Island street fairs and festivals on this page are organized:
1) BY MONTH & WEEK and
2) BY NEIGHBORHOOD.
So you can now look through all of the Queens street fairs on a given weekend, and see where they are in each neighborhood.
The Staten Island street fair dates that have been updated with 2023 designations reflect the current St Fair events.
ASTERISKED street fairs have NOT been UPDATED. The street fairs with prior year dates reflect the information regarding that fair in a prior year.
UNCONFIRMEDS. The 'UNCONFIRMEDS' represent street fairs held in a prior year, which we believe are returning, but which we have not yet confirmed details for 2023.
UPDATES. The asterisked street fairs of prior years and the UNCONFIRMEDS will be updated as new information comes in.
Also check our Staten Island Events calendar and / or our Staten Island Farmers Markets section for updates and other things to do.
Street Fairs Begin, Chain Theatre Performance Continues, Fresh, Fly & Fabulous Exhibit at FIT in Manhattan; Bayside St Patrick's Day Parade & Rough Draft Festival continues at LaGuardia Performing Arts Center Queens; Bay Ridge St Patrick's Day Parade, Rachel Wren Exhibit & Final Performance of Lorraine Hansberry Play Tonight in Brooklyn, March is Music Month at Pregones, Bronx Art Space Exhibit about Homosexuality in Nature, NYBG Orchid Show & Yankees Home Opener in the Bronx; on Staten Island & The Muslim Holy Month of Ramadan Began Thursday
NYC Weather. The temperature highs will be around 50 on Friday and Saturday, rising to 60 on Sunday. The temperature lows will be in the low to mid 40's all weekend. The wind will be 5 - 10 mph on Friday, rising to 10 - 15 on Saturday and Sunday. The humidity will be 40% - 50% on Friday and Sunday, popping up to around 80% on Saturday. There will be about a half inch of rain on Saturday, spread out over the course of the day from around 9 am to 11 pm, so you can likely do whatever you plan to, without any serious rain interruption.
The Muslim Holy Month of Ramadan began yesterday [Thursday 3/23/23] and will continue until Friday, April 21. Ramadan is a month where Muslims fast, pray and reflect on their lives. Not unlike the Christian Lent.
St Patrick's Day Parade, Chain Theatre Performance Continues, Fresh, Fly & Fabulous Exhibit in Manhattan; 40 Shades of Irish Green & Rough Draft Festival at LaGuardia Performing Arts Center in Queens; a Half Marathon Race, Lorraine Hansberry Play Performances & Rachel Wren Opening Art Reception in Brooklyn, an Art Exhibit about Homosexuality in Nature & the Orchid Show in the Bronx; St Pat's Weekend Irish Stout Concert and St Pats Weekend Bar Crawl for All on Staten Island & the First Day of Spring Comes Monday
NYC Weather. The temperature highs will be in the high 50's on Friday, the low 50's on Saturday and the low 40's on Sunday. The temperature lows will be in the low 40's on Friday, and the low 30's for the rest of the weekend. The winds will be 5 - 10 mph on Friday, and then 10 - 15 mph the rest of the weekend. The humidity will drop from 50% - 70% on Friday, to 40% on Saturday and between 30% - 40% on Sunday. No precipitation is expected this weekend.
The first official day of Spring is Monday, March 20, 2023. In the yogic tradition, spring is considered a time of renewal and transformation.
The photos included with this report are from a Manhattan St Patrick's Day Parade in an earlier year. Erin go Bragh which means Ireland Forever. Have a good one, which means a safe one, which means being respectful of others.
In 2017 I attended a Community Board meeting in Astoria where our urban planners talked about new improvements coming to LaGuardia Airport. Since then a number of those plans have come to fruition. But one of them, what at the time was called the third phase, the Air Train to LGA, has not. Use the link to see the thinking nearly six years ago when the plans had been drafted and the construction was about to begin. I'm happy to say that we flagged and reported to you a number of the issues with the LGA Air Train early on, which we've included in the list below.
The photo at right shows the CTA [Chicago Transit Authority] subway that runs along the Kennedy Expressway from downtown Chicago to O'Hare Airport which vies with Atlanta for the title of the busiest airport in the U.S..
The Former Emperor [Governor Cuomo] had No Clothes [Sound Public Interest Rationale]
On Monday, Governor Hochul announced what was already well known and expected, which was that the Air Train shuttling between LaGuardia Airport and Flushing Meadows Corona Park, would not be built.
There were any number of good reasons why the LGA Air Train should not have been built, such as: 1) the costs of building the train would cost more than five times the original estimated cost of under $500 million to over $2.5 billion, 2) then, implicit in a number of alternatives, there was the idiocy of connecting the LGA Air Train, to the second most trafficked subway line [the #7] in NYC, which was already nearing peak capacity pre-pandemic, 3) the politically and billionaire preferred alternative destination, Willets Point on Flushing Bay, had just been cleaned up after decades of environmental pollution, and would again be threatened again, and to top it all off, 4) the politically and billionaire preferred Willets Point alternative required all of the people traveling to and from LaGuardia on public transit, to travel out to Flushing first, before circling back around to LaGuardia Airport. The billionaires who would have benefitted from this include billionaire real estate developer Stephen Ross and [now minority interest] Mets Club billionaire owners Saul B. Katz and Fred Wilpon. The new Mets baseball team owner, Steve Cohen, is also a billionaire.
Daylight Savings Time Sunday 2AM, Performance of a Lorraine Hansberry Play, a Pop Up Market & Poets Workshop in Brooklyn; Chain Theatre Opens Original Play, Fresh, Fly & Fabulous Exhibit in Manhattan; Rough Draft Festival at LaGuardia Performing Arts Center, Workshop for Women About EmPowerment, MFTA Art Opening & 40 Shades of Irish Green in Queens; Two St Patrick's Day Parades, a Concert, a Queer Nature Art Exhibit & the Orchid Show in the Bronx; Two Concerts [one Folk & one Classical], a Pre-Oscar Screening, a Staged Reading & Glass House Tour on Staten Island
NYC Weather. The temperature highs will be in the mid to high 40's and the temperature lows will be in the low to high 30's all weekend. Winds will range from 5 - 13 mph on Friday and Saturday and fall to about 7 mph on Sunday. The humidity will range from 60% - 80% on Friday, and then settle into the 60% - 70% range for the rest of the weekend. There will be about an inch of precipitation between 4 pm Friday and 9 am Saturday, and the rest of the weekend should remain dry.
The photo at right was taken in McCarren Park in the Greenpoint neighborhood of Brooklyn a while back.
Staten Island St Patrick's Day Bars, Restaurants & Historic Irish Pubs SI 2023
Staten Island St Pat's Day Irish Pubs in Castleton, Stapleton, Richmond Town, Great Kills, Rossville, Tompkinsville near St. George, Westerleigh & South Beach Neighborhoods of Staten Island
While St. Patrick's Day is one big party, it's important to keep in mind, that like New Years Eve, all the amateurs come out to play [it's not just the Irish who are out drinking on St. Patrick's Day]. So some measure of caution is advised and you have to be careful.
At a later date we'll add a bit of history of St. Patrick's Day.
Lorraine Hansberry's Play at the Brooklyn Academy of Music & Brooklyn Poets Readings in Brooklyn, the Athena Film Festival at Barnard College, Fresh, Fly & Fabulous Exhibit, Purim Celebration & the Harlem Blues in Manhattan, Cryptochrome at LaGuardia Performing Arts Center & Two St Patrick's Day Parades in Queens, Queer Nature Opens at Bronx Art Space & the Orchid Show in the Bronx, & Lisa & Lori at Historic Richmond Town and the last Remaining Homophobic St Patricks Day Parade in NYC on Staten Island
NYC Weather. There will be about an inch of rain on Friday beginning between 5 - 8 pm, ending by Saturday 8 am. The rest of the weekend will be dry. The temperature highs will be in the mid to high 40's all weekend, while the temperature lows will be in the mid to high 30's. The winds will be 10 - 20 mph on Friday, 5 - 15 on Saturday and about 10 mph on Sunday. The humidity will be 50% - 80% on Friday, 70% on Saturday and 60% on Sunday.
The photo at right was taken late Monday night. It seems someone made good use of their time, and built what is likely one of the few NYC snowmen of this entire winter.
This is a Look at All of the Upcoming St Patricks Day Parades, Including Photos of those We've Covered Over the Years with Links to a Page Containing Photos and Descriptions of Some of the Best Irish Pub in Each Borough
NYC Weather. The temperature highs start at about 40 on Tuesday, rising to 45 Wednesday and 55 on Thursday, before falling back to 40 on Friday. The temperature lows start in the low 30's on Tuesday, rise to the low 40's on Wednesday, before falling back to the mid 30's on Thursday and rising again to about 40 on Friday. The winds on Tuesday range from 5 - 15 mph, then fall back to 5 - 10 mph on Wednesday and Thursday before kicking up to 15 - 20 mph on Friday. The humidity will range from 75% - 85% on Tuesday, then fall back to 65% - 75% for the rest of the weekdays. There's a 50% chance of a scant amount of precipitation Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, before a real chance of an inch and a quarter of either snow or rain on Friday. Most of Saturday and Sunday should be clear.
The photo at right was taken at the St Pats for All Parade in Sunnyside Queens. This St Pat's Parade was created to allow LGBTQ folks to march in a St Patricks Day parade at a time when all of the others banned LGBTQ from marching in their parades.
Each Borough Has its Own Parade
Parades, Pubs and Restaurants in Each Borough. Each borough has at least one or more St. Patrick's Day parade. As we've covered most of them, we've included links to our reports of each St. Patricks Day Parade to provide you with further details of the experience of attending. We've also included links to some of the best or oldest Irish pubs and restaurants in each borough. As this is by no means a comprehensive list, and we will continue refining this report as we learn more about the Irish pubs and restaurants in each borough of NYC.
How this page is organized. We've organized this page first by borough and then by date. The parades span the month, even though the official feast date for St. Patrick is March 17th, which is also the date of the Manhattan parade which is by far the largest.
The LGBTQ Parade Participation Issue Appears to be Abating. In 2020 the St Pats for All parade was begun in Sunnyside to protest the banning of gays from marching in the Manhattan St Pats Parade. In 2015 the Manhattan Parade opened up its participation rules to allow gays to march. In 2020 the Throgs Neck parade opened up its participation to gays. At present only the Staten Island parade continues to ban LGBTQ community members from participating in the parade as openly gay people. The Staten Island ban continues in 2023.
Black HerStory at Lincoln Center, African Poetry Society Film Festival in Queens, Lorraine Hansberry's Play at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Performance of the Play Insignificant at the Bartow Pell Mansion in the Bronx & African American Lighthouse Exhibit Opening on Staten Island
NYC Weather. The temperature high on Friday was 46 degrees, falling to 34 on Saturday, before rising to 51 on Sunday. The temperature lows will rise from the low 20's on Friday, rising to the high 20's on Saturday, and the low 30's on Sunday. The winds will be between 10 - 20 mph Friday, dropping to 4 - 7 mph Saturday and then rising again to 8 - 12 mph. The humidity will be in the 40% to 50% range on Friday, 55% t0 65% on Saturday, and between 50% to 60% on Sunday. No precipitation is expected.
The photo at right was taken at a production of Black Wall Street at the York College Bassin Performing Arts Center in Jamaica Queens quite a while ago.
NYC Weather. The temperature high hit 61 degrees on Monday, and will fall to the mid to high 40's for the rest of the week. The temperature lows will range from the mid 30's to the low 40's until Friday, when the temperature drops into the mid 20's. The winds will range from 5 - 10 mph until Friday, when we'll experience a gusty 15 - 20 mph. The humidity will range between 60% - 70% through the week, before dropping to 40% on Friday. Less than a quarter inch of rain is expected on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
The image at right is of Langston Hughes, a writer in the 1920's and 1930's of the Harlem Renaissance. It seems like African Americans are continuing the process of asserting their influence in American culture, a process that began going mainstream in the 1920's / 1930's.
Highlighting Black History Month in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens & Staten Island NYC with Reports about African American History and Culture
We've covered a number of interesting theatrical performances and art exhibits exploring African American history and the African American experience in the five boroughs over the years. Some of them feature the African American experience front and center, while others include or reference the African American experience. This is a compendium of most of them, with links to the full stories. Think of this as a work in progress as it is far from complete, and in some measure, reflects how long each of our web magazines has been open / covering events in each of the boroughs. At this time I have not included many of the black and brown events reflecting immigrants' cultures, vis a vis the African American cultural experience.
NYC Weather. The temperature highs Friday, Saturday and Sunday will range from the high 40's to the low 50's, before rising on Monday into the high 50's. The temperature lows will fall to 30 on Friday, rising to 35 on Saturday, to 45 on Sunday, before descending into the high 30's on Monday. No precipitation is forecast. It's going to be a fairly windy weekend, with the winds at 20 mph Friday, falling to 5 - 10 mph on Saturday and Sunday, and then rising again to about 10 mph on Monday. The humidity will be 50% - 60% on Friday, falling to 40% - 50% on Saturday, rising to 50% - 70% on Sunday, before falling back to about 50% on Monday. Click for Staten Island Weather.
The image at right shows a picture of the American colonial representatives, John Adams and Ben Franklin, meeting with a British general at the Conference House on Staten Island, in September of 1776, in an effort to prevent bloodshed and the American Revolutionary War. This occurred just a few months after the colonists declared their independence. And as history would have it - the British monarchy wouldn't negotiate - and five years later the American colonists had won the war.
Presidents Day is a federal holiday when all local, state and federal government offices are closed, which generally includes public schools - unless the district uses the holiday to make up a snow day, which is highly unlikely this year since there hasn't been any measureable snow.
Presidents Day is a time to reflect on the performance of our current presidents and legislators, to see how they stack up versus their historical peers. And in that reflection it's worth asking ourselves what we've done to contribute or detract from the national conversation.
Brief History of Presidents Day Holiday Staten Island NYC
A day commemorating Lincoln's birthday was first passed in Buffalo, New York in the early 1870's. Presidents Day originated as Washington's Birthday which was a holiday narrowly prescribed for federal government offices in Washington, D.C. in 1879. The holiday was dedicated to honoring the memory of the first American president, George Washington who was born on February 22, 1732.
In 1885 the holiday was expanded to include all federal government offices around the nation. In 1951 there was a push to create a Presidents Day holiday [vs a George Washington's birthday holiday] to include President Lincoln whose birthday is February 12, 1809 and was also celebrated by localities, but it didn't pass.
In 1971 the holiday was moved off of George Washington's birth date to being the third Monday in February. Thus while it never falls upon Washington's birthday 2/22, the official name of the holiday remains Washington's Birthday. But today, most folks refer to it as Presidents Day and to recognize the presidents who honored the U.S. Constitution and served the interests of the people.
Staten Island Valentine's Day Restaurants & Events 2023
Staten Island Valentine's Day Romantic Restaurants in or near Castleton, Stapleton, Richmond Town, Great Kills, Rossville, Tompkinsville near St. George, Westerleigh & South Beach Neighborhoods of Staten Island
The photo at right shows the bar in the Staten Island Ferry station in the St. George neighborhood.
Valentine's Day is three weeks away. It's a good time to let your loved one know you care. Flowers, gifts and dinner are always welcome treats, and / or some thoughtful gesture that shows that the lady [or man] you're with, still means a lot to you.
This report provides an update on who's open and taking reservations, but also highlights a few local restaurant closures.
All events that have been asterisked are from 2022. Those restaurants without an asterisk have been updated to 2023, so watch the dates / year for 2023.
Unlike last year, there aren't any state CoVid guidelines for indoor dining. And the challenge of getting a reservation at the restaurant of your choice, is likely back to normal, which means if dining on the day of or the weekend before is imporant, you might want to act now.
Given Valentine's Day is on a Tuesday, it may be fair game to make your VDay reservation on Valentine's Day or any day of the preceding weekend. Also, many restaurants have retained thier outside dining capacity - so depending on the weather - NYC restaurants may have more capacity for Valentine's Day weekend than they did versus prepandemic.
But it's also worth noting that a number of restaurants were casualties of these pandemic times, so if you're thinking about doing something this Valentine's Day for dinner in or around the Castleton, Stapleton, Richmond Town, Great Kills, Rossville, Tompkinsville near St. George, Westerleigh or South Beach neighborhoods; it's best to do your research early, and call a week or two in advance to make the reservations.
A Brief History of Valentine's Day - Staten Island Romantic Restaurants on VDay
The origins of Valentine's Day are not well documented. It's believed to have been named after Saint Valentine who was apparently a Catholic martyr who died over 1500 years ago. Today the holiday is not associated with religion so much as flowers, candies, cards and romantic dinners. And the holiday spokesperson is now Cupid, a Roman god of desire, and quite a mischief maker.
Valentines Day Weekend Cocktail Party NYC, Lunar New Year Parade Manhattan, Photo Exhibit Opening Reception & Comedy in the Bronx, Classical & Gregory Porter Concerts in Brooklyn, Play in Queens & Lighthouse for Lovers on Staten Island,
NYC Weather. The temperature high on Friday actually hit 61 degrees this morning, breaking a record. On Saturday and Sunday, the temperature high will be about 50 on both days, while the temperature lows will be in the mid to high 30's throughout the weekend. The winds will be between 5 - 13 mph all weekend. The humidity will be between 40% and 50% on Friday and Saturday, rising a bit to between 50% to 60% on Sunday. There's a small chance [30%] of a small amount of rain [1/10th of an inch] on Sunday night.
Over the past few years I've come to enjoy a number of PBS programs that delve into our collective African American ancestoral roots. One of the shows is hosted by Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. wherein he researches various celebrities' ancestoral roots, digging up photos, slave ownership records, and connections to other celebrities by tracing DNA trails. The journey can lead to any number of surprises, such as when Gates found that one of actress Carol Burnett's ancestors joined the Confederate Army, and then deserted a couple of years later. Or when Gates uncovered that TV Producer / Writer Larry David of Seinfeld is a distant cousin to Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.
But for my money, the treasure trove of programming on PBS may be found in its rich collection of documentaries - both old and new. And among those documentaries are a wide number of films exploring the contributions and history of African Americans.
PBS Documentaries During Black History Month in NYC
I'm only going to touch on one of them now, and at a later date will return to engage in a deeper conversation about others. The documentary I watched on PBS this month, was entitled, The Blinding of Isaac Woodard. It was about how an innocent African American veteran was attacked by a white southern police chief [Lynwood Shull] from South Carolina who beat out Woodard's eyes and permanently blinded him in February 1946, while Woodard was changing buses at a bus stop. That's a mighty nasty way to welcome a WWII veteran home and thank him for risking his life to defend us.
Nonetheless, eight years later, the search for justice was fulfilled ... in a way. Of course the all white South Carolina jury let off Police Chief Shull. But that action so enraged President Harry S. Truman, that he ordered a federal investigation into the case. And actor / radio host Orson Welles, took up the cause too, helping make it known what sorts of racial injustices were being perpetrated upon African Americans living and working in the south.
NYC Weather. We're going to have wintry cold from about 6 pm Friday to about 1 pm Saturday, when the temperatures fall below 20 degrees. Then it's back to our dry, global warming non-winter.
The temperature highs will be in the low to mid 20's on Friday and Saturday, rising significantly on Sunday to about 50 degrees. The temperature lows will be about 8 degrees Friday, rising to the mid 20's on Saturday and the high 30's on Sunday. The humidity will be about 30% on Friday, 40% on Saturday, and 50% on Sunday. Winds will be 20 mph Friday, and then 5 - 10 mph for the rest of the weekend. No precipitation is expected this weekend.
The photo at right was taken inside of City Hall last month. It's a beautiful building, as you can see.
New Play at LaGuardia Performing Arts Center, Boat Show at the Javits, Winter Show at the Park Avenue Armory, The Chinese New Year Celebrations Continue, Winter Jazz Festival & the January Arts Festival Ending, 1st Irish Festival in LIC & Artists Open Call in the Bronx
NYC Weather. The temperature highs will be in the low 40's on Friday and around 50 the rest of the weekend. The temperature lows will be in the low 30's on Friday, rising to about 40 the rest of the weekend. The humidity will be between 50% - 60% on Friday and Saturday, rising to 60% - 70% on Sunday. Winds will be 5 - 10 mph all weekend. No precipitation is expected this weekend.
In the photo at right is the NYC skyline in Midtown, looking west from Queens. We've gone 324 days without measureable snow, the second longest period on record. The longest was 332 days set in 2000. Based on the most recent forecast, we're going to break that record and may go the entire winter without measureable snow. This is not good news. We all need to do whatever we can to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. And, however small it may seem, if you multiply it by seven billion [people on the planet], it won't seem so small. Every little bit of carbon reduction counts.
NYC Weather. The temperature highs will be in the mid to high 40's throughout the weekend, while the temperature lows will be in the mid 30's on Friday and Saturday, rising to about 40 degrees on Sunday. Winds will be about 5 - 10 mph all weekend. The humidity will be about 50% - 60% on Friday and Saturday, rising to about 85% Sunday afternoon as the rain pours in. No rain is in the forecast until Sunday, when a 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch of rain is expected starting around 3 pm.
The photo at right shows folks walking across the Brooklyn Bridge, even amidst the dreary weather.
NYC Things To Do This Weekend
There's outdoor skating at Bryant Park and Rockefeller Center in Midtown, and at Wollman Rink in the southeast corner of Central Park and at the Harlem Meer in the northeast corner of Central Park. Also in Prospect Park and Coney Island in Brooklyn, Cloves Lake on Staten Island, and in Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens. For details see https://www.nycgovparks.org/facilities/iceskating
Employment Steady, Inflation Subsiding, Consumer Confidence Up, Government Stimulus Fading, Fed Tightening 'Should' Stop After .25% Increase at Next FOMC Meeting, Most Global Supply Side Issues have been Corrected, Oil Prices Below a Year Ago, and the Dollar is Strong
January 17, 2023 / NYC Business News / New Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz NYC / 469.
NYC Weather. The temperature highs will be in the mid to high 40's and the temperature lows will be around 40, dropping to 35 degrees on Friday. No rain is expected EXCEPT on Thursday, where up to an inch of rain will fall during the day. Winds will be 5 - 10 mph on Tuesday and Thursday and will be 10 - 15 mph on Wednesday and Friday. Humidity will rise from 45% to 80% on Tuesday, fall back into the 60% range on Wednesday, rise into the 80% range on Thursday with the rain, and fall back into the 60% range on Friday.
I. Economic Background - CoVid Disruptions of Global Supply Chains and U.S. Government Fiscal & Monetary Policy Responses
In recent months I have spent a fair amount of time catching up on what's happening in the economy overall, in an attempt to guage what lies ahead. It's important to realize where we are in the business cycle, in order to figure out what to expect going forward.
* Since March of 2020, we've been in a bit of a pandemic spin. The 2020 pandemic essentially halted most hospitality businesses and softened demand for some services, but drove high demand for both durable and non-durable goods. This is on the demand side. Meanwhile on the supply side, businesses were closing down, or working at far less than capacity, because of the health impact of the pandemic. For example in China, they didn't just appear to shutter businesses, but almost entire cities, to curb the spread of CoVid. China is where much of our electronics are made so this impacted the availability / supply of electronics at a time when Americans were spending more on them, because they weren't traveling, vacationing or even eating out much, so they had extra cash to spend on items, most notably electronics.
The U.S. federal government [as did many governments throughout the world] kept many businesses afloat through expansive monetary policy and generous fiscal spending via CoVid Relief packages which put money in the hands of local businesses, governments and individuals. The fiscal stimulus / excess government spending began in 2020 during the Trump Administration, and ended in early 2021 under the Biden Administration.
The first chart above right shows the federal government excess fiscal spending during the pandemic. Both Trump and Biden temporarily increased government spending in order to keep the economy rolling through the pandemic.
Friday the 13th, Many Martin Luther King Day Weekend Events, Winter Jazz Festival & the January Arts Festival continue, Closing Reception, Play about Patriarchal Power & Skating
NYC Weather. The temperature highs will be in the high 50's on Friday, the high 30's on Saturday and the mid 40's on Sunday and Monday. The temperature lows will be in the low to mid 30's all weekend. No precipitation is in the forecast. The humidity will be in the 60% range on Friday, the 50% range on Saturday, the 40% range on Sunday and Monday. The winds will be 12 - 17 mph on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, dropping to 5 - 10 mph on Monday.
The photo at right was taken a week ago at City Hall, where Mayor Adams opened himself up to a wide range of questions from the local press. This week the Mayor released the Preliminary Budget for NYC for 2024.
NYC Weather. The temperature highs will be in the high 50's on Friday, the high 30's on Saturday and the mid 40's on Sunday and Monday. The temperature lows will be in the low to mid 30's all weekend. No precipitation is in the forecast. The humidity will be in the 60% range on Friday, the 50% range on Saturday, the 40% range on Sunday and Monday. The winds will be 12 - 17 mph on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, dropping to 5 - 10 mph on Monday. Click for Staten Island Weather.
Brief History of Martin Luther King Holiday in NYC
Martin Luther King, Jr. was a Baptist Minister who became the leading voice for African Americans' non-violent civil rights movement beginning in the mid 1950's through to his assassination in 1968. In 1983, the third Monday of every year was set aside to honor Martin Luther King for his service to the nation. The third Monday was chosen, as it was the nearest Monday to the anniversary of King's birthday, which was January 15, 1929.
Martin Luther King Day has grown to take on an even larger meaning, as it is oftentimes referred to as a day on, versus a day off. Organizations around the city and nation have used the day to call people into action to address the needs of the community through volunteering and service.
As Martin Luther King Day is a national holiday, it's worth keeping in mind that many / most federal offices will be closed, along with a number of businesses.
Martin Luther King Holiday Special Events in the Staten Island NYC
There's an MLK Day event on Monday, January 16, 2023 at the Staten Island Children’s Museum in the Snug Harbor Cultural Center at 1000 Richmond Terrace on Staten Island. Some of the events are paid [from 9 am - 4 pm] and some are free with admission [from 11 am - 3.30 pm].
On Monday I made the trip to the Mount Sinai Medical Center between 5th and Madison Avenues and between 99th and 101st Street on the Upper East Side. Mt Sinai is the hold out in completing negotiations or even resuming them with the New York State Nurses Association union or NYSNA.
By last Friday, January 6, 2023, New York Presbyterian Hospital, the Maimonides Medical Center and Richmond University Medical Center had reached tentative agreements with the NYSNA union that included improvements in safe staffing and wages.
By Saturday, January 7, 2023 the NYSNA tweeted that BronxCare Health System and Flushing Hospital Medical Center had "reached tentative agreements that will improve safe staffing levels and enforcement, increase wages by 7%, 6%, and 5%, and save their healthcare benefits."
By Monday, January 9, 2023 about 7,100 pf the 42,000 nurses in the NYSNA union were set to go on strike at Mt Sinai in Manhattan and Montefiore in the Bronx. When I arrived around noon time at Mount Sinai in Manhattan on Monday, the NYSNA had a strong showing by their members. And the vehicular traffic appeared to be highly supportive of them, which you will see in the video I shot when I post it later today. The strikers were stationed primarily on Madison Avenue at about 99th Street, and there was a speaker there, but I really couldn't hear what she had to say with all the surrounding commotion, you'll see that too.
So I found a few nurses talking things over a bit away from the crowd, and I spoke with them. They told me that the strike is primarily about two issues: 1) staffing levels and 2) compensation. I learned a couple of things I didn't hear reported in the corporate media, which I'll share. But please note that I've not yet had a chance to confirm these findings with either of the hospitals still on strike.
The first thing they told me is that the staffing levels vis a vis patient loads are and remain the primary cause of the strike. They said that in the last union negotiation the hospitals agreed to put in recommended grids for staffing levels per patient for the various hospital units, which was a good first step. The problem is that the new staffing grids were not made enforceable.
Thus, because the staffing grids per patient remain unenforceable, I was told that they are exceeded too often. The trouble with this, they told me [and remember these are not the official spokespeople for the union, but rather rank and file union members, and I haven't yet cross referenced these findings with either hospital - see below] is that when you exceed the recommended staffing levels for prolonged periods of time, the probability of staff mistakes rise [dispensing meds and providing treatments], and hence this isn't just unsafe for patients, but it also puts the licenses of the nurses in jeopardy, should they make a mistake.
The second thing they told me was that the corporate media tells New Yorkers that the striking nurses are holding out for higher percentage pay increases vis a vis the nurses at the other hospitals who have reached tentative deals. They thought this characterization was incomplete - if not unfair - as the nurses at Mt Sinai and Montefiore have lower pay scales than the nurses at the other NYC hospitals.
First Full Weekend of the New Year - 2nd Anniversary of the Trump Insurrection, Three Kings Day Parade, Greek, Ukrainian & Russian Orthodox Christmas, Shabbat Dinner, January Under the Radar Festival Begins, Mulchfest Ending & Skating & a Couple of Holiday Market Sales
NYC Weather. The temperature highs will be in the high 40's on Friday and Saturday, descending to the low 40's on Sunday. The temperature lows will be in the low to mid 30's all weekend. The humidity will be 70% on Friday, 60% on Saturday and between 50% and 70% on Sunday. Winds will be 5 - 10 mph all weekend. A scant amount of precipitation is expected early Friday morning, as well as late Sunday night. It appears to be something one needn't worry too much about.
In the photo at right, taken last week in Manhattan, you can see Macy's in the background, in all of its holiday glory.
For all of us, today starts the beginning of a new year.
If we stay the course with vaccinations, masks, social distancing and hand washing, we should be able to continue the transition from pandemic to endemic - assuming we're not already almost there - given that there are likely to be lingering long term CoVid effects and that we may never return to a pre-CoVid normal.
The rest of this report is about some of the things you can do personally to make 2023 a better year for you.
Staten Island New Years Eve Parties & NYE Restaurants 2022 / 2023
Staten Island New Years Eve Parties in Castleton, Stapleton, Richmond Town, Great Kills, Rossville, Tompkinsville near St. George, Westerleigh & South Beach Neighborhoods of Staten Island in NYC
New Years Eve occurs on a Saturday this year. While New Years Eve is one big party, it's important to keep in mind, that like St. Patrick's Day, all the amateurs come out to play [it's not just the Irish who are out drinking on St. Patrick's Day]. So some measure of caution is advised and you have to be careful.
Folks are ready to party this year, so an early rsvp is suggested. Most, if not all, NYC restaurants no longer require proof of vaccination, and no longer require masks. NYC theaters, followed suit this year rescinding both requirements, but they still encourage theater goers to wear masks. And while the pandemic restrictions have been rescinded, you might want to check the CoVid guidelines of your destinations, just to be sure, as each business is free to mandate and enforce their own CoVid guidelines.
The following are a number of different New Years restaurants on Staten Island in NYC where you might consider booking a reservation.
NYC Weather. The temperature highs descend from the mid 50's Friday, to about 20 on Saturday, rising to about 30 on Sunday and Monday, which is a holiday. The temperature lows fall like a rock to about 10 degrees Friday night, before rising to 15 on Saturday, 20 on Sunday and 25 on Monday. The humidity drops from 70% on Friday to 50% by the end of the day, and then remains in the 40% - 50% range for the rest of the weekend, including Monday. As of the time of this post, there's a 70% chance around midday of about 1/10 inch of precipitation. The winds will fall from a blustery 20 mph + on Friday, to 15 mph on Saturday, to 10 - 15 mph on Sunday, down to 5 - 10 mph on Monday.
The photo at right was taken earlier this month at Rockefeller Center in Midtown Manhattan. The crowds are back, but there might not yet, be as many foreign tourists as in the past.
NYC Weather. There's going to be some semi-serious precipitation [at present 2 plus inches] beginning Thursday afternoon around 4 pm, continuing until Friday about 4 pm. The temperatures are expected to rise to well above freezing, so it's almost certain to be rain in the city. As for the rest of the week, no rain Monday through Wednesday, and none is expected Saturday and Sunday, as folks head home for the holidays.
The temperature highs will be around 40 from Monday through Wednesday, rising into the low 50's on Thursday and possibly hit 60 on Friday, before descending into the mid 20's for the Christmas weekend, so Santa and his reindeer won't overheat as they make their appointed rounds. The temperature lows will be around 30 Monday through Wednesday, rising to 50 on Thursday, before falling to into the high teens on Friday, where the low will remain for the rest of the weekend. Monday thru Wednesday winds will be around 5 - 10 mph, rising to 15 - 20 on Thursday and then 25 - 30 on Friday, before falling back to 15 - 20 mph on Saturday and then 10 mph on Sunday. The humidity will be 50% - 65% on Monday thru Wednesday, rising to 75% - 85% on Thursday, and then falling on Friday from 75% to 50% on Friday, before settling into the weekend at between 40% - 50% for a dry weekend.
I. The Tripledemic - RSV How Real & How Scary?
As you likely heard, we are in the midst of experiencing a 'tripledemic'. The triple refers to CoVid, flu and RSV. RSV is short for respiratory syncytial virus, which is a virus that causes symptoms like those associated with a cold, but which can cause serious negative health issues for infants and the elderly. As usual, the TV news teleprompter readers and their writers appear to report whatever they're told, without actually thinking about the information they're conveying. And since they're in the business of attracting viewers' and readers' attention, they seem to have a tendency to sensationalize almost everything they report, including the weather.
So, let's start with RSV [respiratory syncytial virus], which to date, appears to have peaked the week ending November 12, 2022 [see chart]. According to weekly reporting by NYC Health, an NYC government website, there were three RSV related infant deaths since the peak this season, and they all occurred on the same week. As of the NYC Health report on December 17, 2022, there were nearly 30,000 cases in NYC so far this fall. So three infant deaths is a 0.01% RSV death rate in NYC. Given the low death rate, one has to wonder whether there were other complicating factors also at play?
RSV prevention is certainly worth paying attention to in order to protect your loved ones - especially infants, the elderly and immuno compromised. But that said, it rarely appears to be fatal, as you can see by the statistics noted above. RSV cases have been on the decline since the November 12th peak, but as in reporting on all health issues, things can change without notice. So stay tuned, knowing that what we're dealing with generally isn't lethal.
NYC Weather. The temperature highs descend from the high 40's on Friday to about 40 on Saturday and then into the high 30's on Sunday. The temperature lows drop from the mid 30's on Friday, to about 30 on Saturday and Sunday. The humidity drops from between 70% and 80% on Friday, to about 60% on Saturday and then into the 50% range on Sunday. The winds will be 12 - 16 on Friday and then about 10 mph for the rest of the weekend. About a half inch of rain is due Friday, ending about 4 pm in the afternoon, and thereafter the weekend should be dry.
The photo at right was taken last week along 6th Avenue, near Bryant Park in Midtown. The city is again entertaining fair crowds of tourists and New Yorkers.
Early last week I caught wind that there was an impending strike coming to the New York Times. It was a snippet of a news story, but seemed important, given the prominence and influence of the Times. The Times is one of the two most prestigious papers in the nation along with the Washington Post, and one of a small number of such influential newspapers in the world.
NYT Strike on Thursday, December 8, 2022
So, when I heard that the strike was actually happening on Thursday late afternoon, I dropped everything and headed down to the New York Times office building in Midtown Manhattan. I had a hunch that the strikers would be disbanding - if not gone - by the time the TV news ended at 7 pm.
It turns out I was right, as I arrived right around 7 pm and there wasn't a striker in sight. I walked completely around the block, covering all street exits of the Times office building, including 8th Avenue and 40th and 41st Streets. The strikers had been there, just not for a very long time.
I asked several people coming out of the building about the strike. Most of them shrugged me off, in a surly sort of manner. One of them responded telling me that the strikers were there in the afternoon, marching along 8th Avenue. But, as mentioned, there wasn't a striker in sight, and no trace that they had been there. Unless they had slipped into Wolfgang's Steakhouse for drinks and dinner [see photo below].
The photo above right was taken outside of the Times office building in Midtown Manhattan around 7 pm on December 8, 2022 - the day of the one day strike. The picketing appears not to have lasted the day.
A reported 1,100 members of the News Guild of New York gave up a days pay, to stage the one day walk out on Thursday, December 8th. The union represents 1,450 NYT employees, of which 1270 are newsroom personnel, according to the Wall St. Journal. Based on the coverage I saw by other news organizations of the strike, far fewer folks picketed on Thursday, than the number of those who didn't show up for work and gave up the day of pay. My guesstimate of the number who picketed was in the low hundred(s).
NYC Weather. The temperature highs will be in the low to mid 40's, and the temperature lows will be in the low to mid 30's, all weekend. About 1/3 inch of precipitation is expected on Sunday between the hours of noon and midnight. Winds will be about 7 - 10 mph all weekend. The humidity will rise from 40% - 50% on Friday, to 50% - 65% on Saturday, to 70% - 80% on Sunday.
The photo at right was taken this week along 5th Avenue, which was fairly crowded Thursday evening with tourists and New Yorkers.
NYC Weather. The temperature highs will be in the high 40's on Friday, the high 50's on Saturday and descending back to the low 40's on Sunday. The temperature lows will be in the low 40's on Friday, descending to the low 30's on Saturday and Sunday. The humidity will climb from 50% to 60% on Friday, to 55% to 77% on Saturday before descending back to 50% to 60% on Sunday. Winds will be 5 - 10 mph on Friday, rising to 10 - 15 mph on Saturday and then falling to 5 mph on Sunday. About a quarter inch of rain is expected between 7 am and 1 pm on Saturday, otherwise it's a dry weekend.
The photo at right was taken last week. What strikes me about this photo, and other scenes in the city like it, is the lingering foliage and color we're still seeing at this late date in the season.
This weekend we could top 60 degrees, which as you know, is unseasonably warm. Even the birds and insects are confused by this weather. For example at a Thanksgiving Day dinner in Connecticut I noticed there were insects hovering around the table, and in Queens - just yesterday - I walked past a bevy of trees which were alive with the noise of what seemed an entire flock of tweeting birds. It was fairly cold yesterday, so I thought perhaps their beaks were chattering, like we humans do when it's very cold.
NYC Weather. The temperature highs will be in the high 40's on Friday, the high 50's on Saturday and descending back to the low 40's on Sunday. The temperature lows will be in the low 40's on Friday, descending to the low 30's on Saturday and Sunday. The humidity will climb from 50% to 60% on Friday, to 55% to 77% on Saturday before descending back to 50% to 60% on Sunday. Winds will be 5 - 10 mph on Friday, rising to 10 - 15 mph on Saturday and then falling to 5 mph on Sunday. About a quarter inch of rain is expected between 7 am and 1 pm on Saturday, otherwise it's a dry weekend.
The photo at right was taken last week. What strikes me about this photo, and other scenes in the city like it, is the lingering foliage and color we're still seeing at this late date in the season.
This weekend we could top 60 degrees, which as you know, is unseasonably warm. Even the birds and insects are confused by this weather. For example at a Thanksgiving Day dinner in Connecticut I noticed there were insects hovering around the table, and in Queens - just yesterday - I walked past a bevy of trees which were alive with the noise of what seemed an entire flock of tweeting birds. It was fairly cold yesterday, so I thought perhaps their beaks were chattering, like we humans do when it's very cold.
Holiday Things To Do in Manhattan - Open Streets in Midtown
All Weekend the holiday shops at Bryant Park, Grand Central Station, Times Square, Columbus Circle, Union Square Park, the Grand Bazaar on the UWS, the Chelsea Market, and the World Trade Center are all open - not just this weekend but through to Christmas. Details to all of these and other markets may be found using the link below entitled Manhattan holiday markets.
Unique markets open only this weekend include one at the Indian Museum, and one - La Marqueta - only on Saturday in Harlem. On Sunday 12/4/22 there's an ornament making workshop at the Ukrainian Museum where they're encouraging folks to do some holiday shopping at the museum gift shop as they aren't hosting a bazaar this year. Details to all of these and other markets may be found using the link below entitled Manhattan holiday markets.
On Saturday Hudson Park is hosting its tree lighting. Details to all of these and other events may be found using the link below entitled Manhattan holiday events.
Note that on Sundays, December 4, 11 & 18, 2022 between 12 noon and 6 pm, Fifth Avenue will be closed to vehicles and open to pedestrians from 48th to 57th Street. On Sunday from 10 am - 5.30 pm for the price of an MTA fare, passengers may ride the MTA vintage / nostalgia 1930s, 1940's, 1950's and 1960's train cars from between Chambers Street in the West Village and West 137th Street in Harlem. Brick Presbyterian Church has its Park Avenue tree lighting on Sunday, as does Carl Schurz Park which hosts its tree lighting Sunday. Details to all of these and other events may be found using the link below entitled Manhattan holiday events.
All Weekend the Luminaires Light Installation at Brookfield Place will be on. Ice rinks at Bryant Park and Rockefeller Center are open. The Rockefeller Christmas tree is up, but not lit. ORIGAMI at the American Museum of Natural History on the UWS. Details to all of these and other events may be found using the link below entitled Manhattan holiday events.
Next Wednesday both Madison Square Park and Washington Square Park have their tree lightings. Details to all of these and other events may be found using the link below entitled Manhattan holiday events.
On Friday night, December 2, 2022 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music aka BAM, community activist Angela Davis will speak and there's also a Slavic Soul party. The Lott House is also hosting a Sinterklaus tree lighting event with cocoa, cookies & music. Details to all of these and other events may be found using the link below entitled Brooklyn holiday events.
On Saturday there's a St Nicholas celebration at The Vande Ende Onderdonk House which is an historic Dutch colonial house celebrates. Also the Wyckoff Museum is hosting an outdoor St Nicholas event with St Nick arriving on a live horse around 2.30 pm.
On Saturday there's a pop up market at Fort Greene Park. On Saturday and Sunday, December 3 & 4, 2022 there's a holiday market at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and a couple of holiday flea markets - one in Williamsburg and the other in Dumbo. The FAD [Fashion / Art / Design] markets also open this weekend and remain open weekends, closing prior to the Christmas weekend. Details to all of these and other markets may be found using the link below entitled Brooklyn holiday markets.
On Sunday there's a Christmas tree lighting in Fort Greene Park. Details to all of these and other events may be found using the link below entitled Brooklyn holiday events.
All Weekend - Holiday lights in Dyker Heights and the Lightscape Show at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden. Details to all of these and other events may be found using the link below entitled Brooklyn holiday events.
Lastly, it's worth noting that the Fort Hamilton holiday celebration and market is next Friday, December 9th. So if you're planning to go you need to register to gain access to the army base.
On Friday, December 2nd in Jackson Heights beginning at 5 pm there's a tree lighting organized by the 82nd Street Partnership. There's also a tree lighting at Harpell's Pharmacy in Bayside. Details to all of these and other events may be found using the link below entitled Queens holiday events.
On Saturday, December 3rd there's a holiday party in Astoria Park in the afternoon organized by CALDC. Also on Saturday in Astoria, along Steinway Street, there will be Christmas carolers making their way up and down the street from late morning through most of the afternoon. In Jackson Heights the JH Beautification Group is hosting its annual tree lighting and holiday celebration beginning at 4 pm. Details to all of these and other events may be found using the link below entitled Queens holiday events.
Also on Saturday, December 3rd in the afternoon, there are a couple of holiday art fairs in LIC hosted by artists. In Sunnyside, there's an arts and crafts fair all day long. And in Bayside there are also a couple of holiday fairs which run in the morning and most of the afternoon, which are hosted by churches. Details to all of these and other markets may be found using the link below entitled Queens holiday markets.
On both Saturday and Sunday in Flushing there will be a tree lighting combined with arts and crafts projects at the Queens Botanical Garden. Details to all of these and other events may be found using the link below entitled Queens holiday events.
All Weekend. The Winter Lantern Festival began at the Queens County Farm at 7350 Little Neck Parkway. The Amaze Lights Festival began November 11th at CitiField in Flushing and runs through January 8th, 2023. Details to all of these and other events may be found using the link below entitled Queens holiday events.
There are also a number of events that happen next week, including the premiere of a new play about the pandemic at the LaGuardia Performing Arts Center in LIC. Details to all of these and other events may be found using the link below entitled Queens holiday events.
All Weekend - The Wave Hill Garden and Cultural Center is hosting wreath making workshops in Riverdale. The Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights and NY Botanical Garden Glow and NY Botanical Garden Holiday Train Show also run all weekend. Details to all of these and other holiday markets and holiday events may be found using the link below entitled Bronx holiday markets and events.
On Saturday 12/3/22 there's a Salsa Dance Party at the Bronx Museum. There's also a holiday event at the Bronx Terminal Market in the Concourse neighborhood. And a late afternoon / early evening holiday tree lighting on Arthur Avenue in the Little Italy neighborhood of the Bronx. The Bartow Pell Mansion is hosting its annual holiday party and fundraiser. Details to all of these and other holiday markets and holiday events may be found using the link below entitled Bronx holiday markets and events.
On Sunday 12/4/22, there's a free classical holiday concert at Lehman College in Bedford Park. Also on Sunday the Throggs Neck Merchants Assocation hosts its annual holiday celebration at the Bronx Library at the DeRosa O'Boyle Triangle in the Throgs Neck neighborhood of the Bronx. Details to all of these and other holiday markets and holiday events may be found using the link below entitled Bronx holiday markets and events.
Next Thursday, 12/8/22 there's a holiday celebration with Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson at Lou Gehrig Plaza at Borough Hall at 161st Street and the Grand Concourse in the Mott Haven / Concourse neighborhoods of the Bronx. That same evening there will be another holiday lights celebration at the Mosholu Parkway Lawn in Norwood neighborhood of the Bronx.
And Next Friday the Fordham BID hosts its holiday celebration in Bryan Park in the Fordham neighborhood. Also next Friday the Bartow Pell Mansion begins hosting candelight tours of the mansion. Details to all of these and other holiday markets and holiday events may be found using the link below entitled Bronx holiday markets and events.
All Weekend there's a Winter Wonderland at Snug Harbor. And the Staten Island Mall is hosting photo sessions with Santa. Details to all of these and other holiday events may be found using the link below entitled Staten Island holiday events.
On Saturday there's a holiday market at Snug Harbor in Randall Manor. A holiday market at Immanuel Union Church in Westerleigh. Details to all of these and other holiday markets may be found using the link below entitled Staten Island holiday markets.
There's also a Yule Jog at the Conference House in Tottenville and the Conference House Holiday Tours have begun. Details to all of these and other holiday events may be found using the link below entitled Staten Island holiday events.
On Saturday & Sunday Empire Outlet tree lighting and holiday market in St. George. Details to all of these and other holiday markets may be found using the link below entitled Staten Island holiday markets.
On Sunday, the Grand Illumination and outdoor holiday market at the Conference House in Tottenville. Details to all of these and other holiday markets may be found using the link below entitled Staten Island holiday markets.
On Sunday the Old Bermuda Inn begins its first round of holiday brunches with Santa.
Next Monday and Tuesday the Historic Old Bermuda Inn with John Vincent Scalia Funeral Home hosts their annual Memorial Tree Lighting. Next Tuesday, 12/6/22 Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella will host a tree lighting at Borough Hall in St. George. Next Wednesday 12/7/22 there's a holiday celebration in Midland Beach organized by the Richmond Road Merchants Association. Details to all of these and other holiday events may be found using the link below entitled Staten Island holiday events.
Christmas Tree Lightings, Hanukkah Menorah Lightings, & Kwanzaa Candle Lightings on Staten Island and Holiday Events & Things To Do NYC
December 23, 2022 / Staten Island Neighborhoods / Staten Island Holiday Events / Staten Island Things To Do / Staten Island Buzz NYC.
*** Be sure to visit our Staten Island Holiday Markets page, as it contains related holiday events with a shopping element to them.
*** For links to holiday events and markets in all five boroughs of NYC scroll down to the bottom of this report.
EDITOR NOTE. While it seems we've turned the corner on the CoVid pandemic, remember caution is the better part of valor. Try to maintain some social distance, when in a crowded place consider wearing a mask and if you're not feeling well, give yourself a break and enjoy some time at home.
How The Staten Island Holiday Events Page on this Page are Organized
These holiday events on Staten Island are organized as follows:
1. BY NEIGHBORHOODS OF STATEN ISLAND
2. BY DATE
Watch carefully as some locales have multiple dates, and all dates for a given locale are shown at the time the venue is first listed.
3. ALL OF THESE ARE FREE UNLESS FEES ARE SPECIFIED.
4. Note STATEN ISLAND HOLIDAY MARKETS are published on a separate page - the links to which are posted at the bottom of this page, along with links to other boroughs.
Staten Island Holiday Lights, Christmas Tree Lightings, Hanukkah Menorah Lightings, Kwanzaa Candle Lightings Background
The holidays are a special time of the year. In ancient times there were harvest celebrations to give thanks and enjoy the bounty after a long growing and harvesting season aka a year of work.
And there were also winter solstice celebrations to commemorate the end of the darkening of the skies. Some cultures celebrate with a festival of lights, and in Christian cultures the holidays are marked with holiday lightings including tree lightings and candle lightings - as well as the celebration of giving through the most well known and most generous man in the world - Santa Claus.
Meanwhile, back on Staten Island we celebrate in a number of ways, which carry on some of these ancient traditions. The following provides the dates / times / locales and some details regarding many of the various Staten Island holiday celebrations and Staten Island holiday markets and shopping for folks to enjoy between now and the end of the year.
NYC Weather. The temperature highs will be in the low to mid 50's all weekend, while the temperature lows will rise from around 40 on Friday and Saturday, to 50 on Sunday. The humidity drops from 60% - 70% on Friday, to 50% - 60% on Saturday, and then rises again to 70% - 80% on Sunday. The winds will be around 15 mph Friday, falling to 10 mph on Saturday and Sunday. There's a slight chance of a slight amount of rain before noon Friday, none on Saturday and then about a half to two thirds inch of rain on Sunday between 11 am and 9 pm.
The photo at right was taken at a Thanksgiving dinner I attended yesterday. I ate so much of the dinner, that I didn't dare have any dessert for fear of exploding ... a similar memory of which, I also have as a child.
A couple of years ago, I happened upon a childhood book of fables and fairytales that I had saved since I was a first grader. I was young enough to still like fairytales and old enough to be learning and loving to read.
The book, A Gateway to Storyland, by Platt & Munk Co, was given to me around the holidays, and the book still gives me a warm, loved feeling when I periodically open it to browse through the fairytales and fables containing little nuggets of age old wisdom about how to conduct onesself [see photo at right / the book is still in print]. I read it numerous times immediately upon receiving it, as the illustrations fed my imagination, and lessons embedded in the words resonated with timeless sagacity.
Unselfish Parental Love Manifested by Empowering Progeny
Love comes in many forms, but the purest form is unselfish love. The love of truly giving something with no thought of anything in return. That love is oftentimes given intergenerationally - from grandparents to parents to children.
Perhaps the greatest gifts are those that cost us nothing but our time. Like the gift of teaching someone something that they will be able to put to good use throughout their lives. Parents do this all the time, when they help their children develop skills, and impart some knowledge and learning ... just as my parents did many years ago, by giving me a well illustrated fairytale book to encourage my interest in reading, while sharing the time tested insights of the ages, handed down through storytelling.
I. A Brief Thanksgiving History
The Pilgrims Shared Communal Resources to Actualize a Dream
At Thanksgiving time we commemorate one of America's first settlements, founded by the risk-taking, resource-pooling, hardworking, spiritual community of Pilgrims.
The Pilgrims were early English settlers who arrived on American shores in the early 17th century [1600's]. They came here because they wanted a measure of freedom and self-determination that they were forbidden in Europe or what was called the 'old country'. The Pilgrims wanted to practice their faith, unencumbered, in a way that differed from the established Church of England. They pooled their money to obtain a ship, the Mayflower, to cross the Atlantic in mid September of 1620, landing on America's shores at Plymouth Rock in Massachusetts on November 9, 1620. Think of it. It took about a month and a half to travel a distance we can now traverse in about five hours.
The Pilgrims Receive Help from the Native People of a Strange Land
Per Wikipedia, the Piligrims survived a hard winter in 1621 with the help of the Wampanoag, an American Indian tribe. The Pilgrims were the immigrants, and the first Americans, the Indian natives, welcomed them. The Wampanaog taught the Pilgrims how to catch eels, and how to grow and harvest corn. Thus the Pilgrims ended 1621 with a good harvest which they celebrated and shared with their new friends, expressing their gratitude to a higher power, aka God, for the success of their endeavors.
Thus it was that the first Thanksgiving celebration happened in America ... or did it?
NYC Weather. The temperatures will be in the mid to low 40's during the day and the mid to low 30's at night. Humidity will be fairly low ranging from 35% to 50%. No rain is in the forecast. The winds will range from 10 - 16 mph, so fairly windy.
As hard as it is to believe, the holidays have arrived. Last weekend the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree arrived. It's an 80 foot spruce which will be lit on Wednesday evening November 30th.
Following the lighting at Rockefeller Center, there's a new street program entitled Fifth Avenue for All. It starts Sunday, December 4th, continuing Sunday, December 11th and ending Sunday, December 18th whereby 5th Avenue will be closed to automobile traffic from 49th to 57th Street, from 12 noon - 6 pm. There will be food vendors, musicians, pedestrians and others, who will take over the street.
And of course the holiday events and holiday shopping seasons have begun as well. We're working on holiday markets as we speak, and we expect to continue updating through the weekend. But you can use the links below in the Holiday Markets report filed earlier this week, to see how far we've gotten in posting the holiday markets which have begun opening.
*** For links to holiday events and markets in all five boroughs of NYC scroll down to the bottom of this report.
EDITOR NOTE. While it seems we've turned the corner on the CoVid pandemic, it's after effects are still hovering around us. That said, we mostly appear to have turned the corner and are in the process of returning to normal.
The holidays are a special time of the year. In ancient times there were harvest celebrations to give thanks and enjoy the bounty after a long growing and harvesting season aka a year of work.
THESE HOLIDAY EVENT & HOLIDAY MARKETS ARE ORGANIZED
1. BY NEIGHBORHOODS OF STATEN ISLAND
2. And BY DATE - (not always as it depends on when the info comes in)
Watch carefully as some locales have multiple dates, and all dates for a given locale are shown at the time the venue is first listed.
And there were also winter solstice celebrations to commemorate the end of the darkening of the skies. Some cultures celebrate with a festival of lights, and in Christian cultures the holidays are marked with holiday lightings including tree lightings and candle lightings - as well as the celebration of giving through the most well known and most generous man in the world - Santa Claus.
Meanwhile, back on Staten Island we celebrate in a number of ways, which carry on some of these ancient traditions. The following provides the dates / times / locales and some details regarding many of the various Staten Island holiday celebrations and Staten Island holiday markets and shopping for folks to enjoy between now and the end of the year.
NYC Weather. The temperature highs will be in the mid 60's Friday, dropping to the mid 50's Saturday and down to the mid 40's Sunday. The temperature lows will plummet from the low 50's Friday, to the low 330's Saturday and into the high 20's on Sunday. The humidity will fall from 90% Friday, to 80% Saturday, to 65% 80% on Sunday. Winds will be a blustery 7 - 15 mph all weekend. Rain is in the forecast, with about a quarter inch to fall tonight, and then 1/10th inch of rain early in the morning on Saturday and Sunday - so it shouldn't stop you from going out.
The NYS election is today, Tuesday November 8th. On the ballot are the following races: U.S. Senate, Governor, Other state level positions such as Attorney General, State Assembly, State Senators and Ballot measures.
NYC Weather. The temperature highs will be in the mid to high 70's all weekend, while the low will be in the mid 60's all weekend. No rain is in the forecast, but it will be a very humid weekend for this time of year ranging from 70% to 85% all weekend. Winds will be about 10 mph all weekend.
The photo at right was taken at the Queens World Film Festival in a prior year. The festival returned to the Museum of the Moving Image this week and runs through the weekend.
The graphic below right shows the course of the NYC Marathon this Sunday.
Thanksgiving Day Food Shopping, Community Dinners & Restaurants on Staten Island 2022
Thanksgiving Day Grocery Stores Food Shopping, Community Dinners & Restaurants in or near Castleton, Stapleton, Richmond Town, Great Kills, Rossville, Tompkinsville near St. George, Westerleigh & South Beach Neighborhoods of Staten Island
Thanksgiving Day History - Thanksgiving Food Shops, Dinners & Restaurants on Staten Island
The origins of Thanksgiving Day in the United States began with one of America’s first settlements, founded by the risk-taking, resource-pooling, hardworking, spiritual community of Pilgrims. The Pilgrims were early English settlers who arrived on American shores in the early 17th century [1600’s]. They came here because they wanted a measure of freedom and self-determination that they were forbidden in Europe or what was called the ‘old country’. The Pilgrims wanted to practice their faith, unencumbered, in a way that differed from the established Church of England. They pooled their money to obtain a ship, the Mayflower, to cross the Atlantic in mid September of 1620, landing on America's shores at Plymouth Rock in Massachusetts on November 9, 1620.
The Pilgrims Receive Help from the Native People of a Strange Land
Per Wikipedia, the Piligrims survived a hard winter in 1621 with the help of the Wampanoag, an American Indian tribe. The Pilgrims were the immigrants, and the first Americans, the Indian natives, welcomed them. The Wampanaog taught the Pilgrims how to catch eels, and how to grow and harvest corn. Thus the Pilgrims ended 1621 with a good harvest which they celebrated and shared with their new friends, expressing their thanks to a higher power, aka God, for the success of their endeavors.
Thus it was that the first Thanksgiving celebration happened in America. There's some dispute to this account, which we'll address in a future post, near Thanksgiving Day.
NYC Weather. The temperature highs will be in the low 60's all weekend, while the temperature lows will be in the low 40's on Friday and Saturday, rising to the mid 50's by Sunday. Winds will be 3 - 8 mph all weekend. Humidity will be 45% - 65% on Friday and Saturday, rising to 60% - 80% on Sunday. No rain is in the forecast this weekend.
The photo at right was taken over a decade ago in Queens. I recently came across it while doing some website content management work. The photo captures a moment in time of a young woman with an alluring gaze.
Your best bet is to click the link above for the full Manhattan Halloween magilla.
On Friday night the Whitney Museum in the Village is throwing a 'Hallowteen' event, while there's a Halloween party at the Museum of the City of New York on the UES and the McKittrick Hotel is throwing a big Halloween Party down in Chelsea. Stage 48 in Midtown is throwing a Monster Ball on Friday and a Halloween Parade After Party on Monday. There's also an old silent movie being shown, accompanied by a live organist, at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. The Merchants House Museum in the East Village is hosting haunted tours in the evening on Friday and Saturday.
On Saturday the Meatpacking BID is hosting a number of family friendly Halloween events and programs in the West Village, while E's Bar is throwing a party on the UWS. On Saturday and Sunday, Lincoln Center is hosting an Open House and Family Day. Capitale in SoHo is hosting a big Halloween bash on Saturday.
On Sunday the Irish Arts Center in West Midtown is throwing a kids event midday. The Slate Bar, Bar 13 and Webster Hall all have Halloween events on both Saturday and Monday. Also on Sunday in the Flatiron District there's a Halloween themed history tour.
Your best bet is to click the link above for the full Brooklyn Halloween magilla.
On Friday and through the weekend, the House of Yes, has entertainment galore. The Bay Ridge 5th Avenue BID is hosting a Halloween event in the evening. The Green-wood Cemetery is hosting the Dia de Los Muertos tours through their grounds Friday through Monday evening.
On Saturday in Fort Greene Park there's a Halloween dog costume contest and a party. The Polish Slavic Center is hosting a parade and festival from late morning on. In Prospect Park there's a haunted carousel through the afternoon. The Old Stone House has a costume contest in the afternoon. Industry City is hosting an early afternoon trick or treat. Littlefield in Gowanus is throwing a Halloween 'be cute' costume party at night. And at MCU Park there are a number of Halloween events including [unconfirmed] a Halloween parade starting around noon.
On Sunday at Kings Theatre in the Flatbush Ditmas neighborhood, there's a performance of RuPaul's Drag Race Night of the Living Drag in the evening.
On Monday there's Dumboween with the traditional March to the Arch in Dumbo. In Fort Greene, BAM is throwing a BAMboo party in the afternoon. The Park Slope Civic Council is hosting a parade in the early evening.
Your best bet is to click the link above for the full Queens Halloween magilla.
On Saturday Socrates Sculpture Park is hosting a Harvest Festival during the day, while the Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden is hosting a Halloween party in the evening - both in Astoria near LIC. Russo's on the Bay in the Rockaways is throwing a Halloween party and there's also a rooftop party at the old Z Hotel organized by an independent. There are a number of local bars in Sunnyside and Woodside that throw fairly low key Halloween parties. Maggie Maes on Queens Blvd is the only one for which I saw a promotion.
On Sunday there's a full day of Halloween on the farm at the Queens County Farm.
On Monday the Jackson Heights Kids Halloween Parade returns. It's a decades long community tradition.
Your best bet is to click the link above for the full Bronx Halloween magilla.
The Bronx Zoo is hosting a number of Halloween themed programs / events through Sunday 10/30.
On Saturday, there's a Halloween party in Franz Sigel Park near Yankee Stadium in the Concourse neighborhood of the Bronx. The Throgs Neck Halloween Parade and Party begin around noon at St. Frances de Chantal Church / School. Also in Throgs Neck is a party hosted by the 45th Precinct. The Bartow Pell Mansion is hosting a trick or treat in the afternoon. The NY Botanical Garden is hosting Halloween in the Garden and Spooky Pumpkin Garden Night on Saturday. BAAD Bronx is hosting a Halloween Party Saturday night in the Westchester Square neighborhood of the Bronx.
On Monday, the City Island Halloween Parade returns to the Main Drag aka City Island Avenue. And the KRVCDC is throwing a Halloween Party beginning in the late afternoon at their HQ in Riverdale. The KRVC in the name stands for Kingsbridge, Riverdale and Van Cortlandt neighborhoods and all are welcome.
Your best bet is to click the link above for the full Staten Island Halloween magilla.
The Alice Austen House is hosting a 'spirit world' event Friday night. There's the Rocky Horror Picture Show at the St. George Theatre also Friday night. Snug Harbor has a 'scary' tour Friday night. The Lighthouse Museum has a Haunted Cruise up the East River scheduled for Friday evening. There's a play running through the weekend at the Empire Outlets next to the Staten Island Ferry Terminal.
The Historic Bermuda Inn is hosting a costume party Saturday night in Rossville, while in Tottenville the Conference House is hosting an arts and crafts event Saturday afternoon. Last, but not least, the Staten Island Mall is hosting a trick or treat in the mall on Saturday. Snug Harbor has a Scary Stories & S'Mores program scheduled for families on Saturday and Sunday. The Lighthouse Museum has some daytime programs scheduled on Saturday and Sunday. Historic Richmond Town is hosting tours and passage through a pumpkin patch this weekend.
There's a parade on Sunday at the Empire Outlets next to the Staten Island Ferry Terminal.
What have the Democrats & the Biden Administration Accomplished?
Does Biden have Washington Working Again, in Spite of Narrow Democratic Majorities in Both the Senate & House? Why are Democrats Not Running on Their Collective Record?
October 26, 2022 / Local Government & Politics / National Government & Politics / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz NYC.
The midterm elections are on Tuesday, November 8th.
While President Biden's poll approval is below 50%, I believe it is because there's a yawning gap between perception - as provided daily by the billionaire controlled TV networks - and reality.
So here's the reality piece of it, since you've already been inundated with the ratings-driven TV networks view of things.
The Biden Administration presided over the creation of 10,000,000 new jobs since coming to office, more than any other first half term of a presidency.
The Biden Administration helped fix the broken supply chain last year, which enabled most Americans to have a normal Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Biden's Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg worked with the shipping industry to identify and fix the bottlenecks of: 1) ship arrival and departure scheduling, 2) harbor warehouse space capacity and management, 3) harbor merchandise management movement, 4) harbor staffing and scheduling and 5) land transportation pick up and delivery. Billionaire Rupert Murdoch's Wall St. Journal, NY Post and Fox News hyped the perception that things were far more broken than they were. The Murdoch media outlets noted above, seem better at letting their audience know what Rupert Murdoch wants them to think / fear [aka perception], than reporting the world as it is [reality].
The Democrats and Biden Administration passed a $1 Trillion Infrastructure Bill which was designed to upgrade our nation's infrastructure by improving broadband communications, transportation infrastructure like bridges, tunnels and roads, and our utility / power grid.
The Biden Administration passed the CHIPS law, which is a semiconductor manufacturing bill that incents America's leading chip makers to build more of their products right here in the good old USA. America leads in semiconductor research and design, but lags behind China, Korea and Japan in chip manufacturing. This will create many new high tech jobs. It seems to me that Ohio Senate candidate, Tim Ryan, should try to make some hay with this. BTW this isn't just good for the economy. It's also necessary for national security.
The Biden Administration is presiding over one of the lowest unemployment rates [currently 3.7%] the U.S. has had, which is part of the reason inflation was triggered.
Inflation. It's Starting to Come Down & Will Continue Downwardly in 2023
Inflation happens when demand outstrips supply. That's simple economics.
During the pandemic the supply / demand relationship was disrupted globally. As a result inflation rose from 4.7% globally to an estimated 8.8% globally. In the U.S. inflation in 2021 was 4.7% and is estimated to end 2022 at about 8%, falling to 6.5% in 2023. So inflation is a global problem and we're doing better than the rest of the world.
The Federal Reserve is able to 'manage' inflation by raising interest rates which takes liquidity out of the market and slows spending. The Federal Reserve, from where I sit, overreacted with monetary stimulus during the pandemic, and is on the verge of overreacting with its withdrawal of money supply by virtue of raising interest rates too fast and too far.
I think the Fed should reduce its interest rate increases to a half point in November and December and then move cautiously in the 2023 new year, perhaps to a quarter point or maybe even to no increase in the beginning of 2023, because as you can see from the chart, it wasn't until the beginning of 2022 that inflation started galloping. And because inflation was high in the early months of 2022, the price increases year over year should start dropping fairly significantly beginning in 2023. See chart above right and also note that inflation is already coming down, so we're on the right track, in correcting for the economic / supply and demand disruptions caused by the pandemic.
The other thing for the Feds to consider is the multiplier effect and its lag time. The multiplier effect is an economic term that essentially says when a large purchase is made - like a house, a car or a vacation - that economic activity trickles through to many other segments in the economy. For instance the purchase of a home usually initiates some spending on furniture or construction / renovation, while the purchase of a car initiates spending on gas, hotels, restaurants, and so on. The reverse is true as money dries up. The large purchases are oftentimes made by borrowing, and the payments associated with borrowing depend on the interest rates, which ultimately depend on the Federal Reserve funds rate. When the rates go up, the economy slows. When the rates go down, the economy accelerates.
There's a lag time for the multiplier effect to ripple through the economy. So, in the current scenario, this means that as money is taken out of the economy by Fed interest rate increases, there's a lag in its impact on consumers realizing the change and adapting their spending to it. The lag can range from three to 24 months. This summer / fall we started to see the Fed's rate increases begin impacting / slowing economic activity. But the full impact of the increases made to date will take longer, as the multiplier effect continues reverberating through the economy, ultimately affecting business and consumer decisions going forward. So the Fed needs to tread carefully, as the tools they have to manage this process require one to master something that is part science and part art.
The Federal Reserve Chair is appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate every four years.
Democrats & Biden's Efforts to Mitigate the Impact of Inflation. Social Security Increase of 8.7%. Healthcare Cost Reductions & Aid. Energy Savings. Student Debt Reduction.
The Biden Administration is overseeing one of the largest increases [8.7%] in Social Security payments in decades. This is good news for the elderly, as it will catch them up on the last year of inflation, as inflation is expected to come down.
The Biden Administration, through the Inflation Reduction Act, has enabled Medicare to negotiate drug prices. This is good economic news for the government budget deficit and will help lower the cost of prescriptions for Americans on Medicare.
The Biden Administration included in the Inflation Reduction Act an extension of the subsidies to enrollees of the Affordable Care Act [ObamaCare] to help keep enrollees out-of-pocket costs low for the next three years. These subsidies were set to expire this year.
The Biden Administration included in the Inflation Reduction Act funding for incentives for consumers to buy more renewable energy products and appliances in order to reduce carbon emissions. Electric vehicles are one such example and the incentives are limited to those making 150% of the median income in their area.
The Biden Administration has announced that it is reducing debt incurred for education by $10,000 for qualifying students. I would have preferred that they kept the loans intact, while offering 0% interest instead to help students out.
The Biden Administration is overseeing one of the largest increases [8.7%] in Social Security payments in decades. This is good news for the elderly, as it will catch them up on the last year of inflation, as inflation is expected to come down.
Protecting the American People. Bipartisan Gun Bill.
The Biden Administration passed the first law regulating the purchase of handguns in 30 years. See September 13, 2022 report below. Everyone recognizes that the legislation didn't go far enough, as assault weapons must be taken off the streets, but the Republicans in Congress won't allow it. So they accomplished what they could - given the tight majorities the Democrats have in both legislative bodies - by taking handguns out of the hands of young people and tightening background checks.
The Biden Administration has two Local Police Funding bills [Invest to Proect] pending - one in the Senate and one in the House - which need to be reconciled. If they two legislative bodies can reconcile their differences, about $300 million will go to local police departments over five years to help them with the recent crime wave coming out of the pandemic. During the pandemic Americans made record gun purchases, many by first time gun owners, and many gun sales included assault weapons, which have contributed to record mass murders in America this year. Biden is the president, not the dictator or king [same difference in many nations], so he needs majorities in both bodies of the legislature, to move the needle a little closer to reasonable vis a vis the kinds of guns on the streets.
Protecting Veterans. PACT Act.
The Biden Administration passed a bill, the PACT Act [Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxins] that expands medical and other benefits for veterans and their families who were exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances while serving in the military.
President Biden appointed the first African American woman, Ketanji Brown Jackson, to the Supreme Court.
The Biden Administration sued Idaho to delay an Abortion ban in the wake of the Supreme Court Ruling overturning a woman's right to an early cessation of pregnancy. The Department of Justice is also weighing similar suits to do the same in other states, but without a Democratic Congress and Senate, the Biden Administration's hands are tied on this issue. If women wish to retain their right to make decisions as to when to give birth and to whose baby [in many states, women with rapist pregnancies, are mandated to give birth], then they need to get out and vote for the Democrats who are trying to protect their rights. Can you imagine Mitch McConnell or Donald Trump allowing the government to tell them that they had to go through a nine month pregnancy, and birth / take care of the baby of someone who raped them?
Biden named Juneteenth a national holiday. According to Wikipedia, "Juneteenth marks the anniversary of the announcement of General Order No. 3 by Union Army General Gordon Granger on June 19, 1865, proclaiming freedom for slaves in Texas." The slaves in Texas were among the last to learn of Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation of January 1, 1863.
Protecting the Planet. Responding to Climate Change.
The Biden Administration approved the passage of sites for 30 gigawatts of off shore, wind-powered installations. This would increase wind generated power by about 22% in the U.S. in just a few short years. For perspective the U.S. generates more than 1116 gigawatts of power [this is not an accurate figure - only directional as I didn't have time to reconcile the difference between various information sources]. Solar power sources in the U.S. in 2015 stood at about 28 gigawatts in total. It's only a start, as Republicans still seem to ignore all of the signs of global climate change - like a spelunker team leader believing that the light at the end of the train tunnel is an opening - not an oncoming train. Rupert Murdoch, who largely controls the Republican party through his propagandistic mass media outlets [WSJ, Fox News & NY Post], has had close ties to the Saudis. At one time a Saudi Prince was the largest non-Murdoch investor in his tightly controlled NewsCorp.
Do you think Murdoch's financial dealings with the Saudi Prince affected his 'news' outlets distorted reporting of climate change?
For the full story on a man members of British Parliament called unfit to run an international company, that a former Australian Prime Minister called a cancer to their democracy, and who President Joe Biden said was the most dangerous man in the world - see our report series on Rupert Murdoch who controls Fox News, the NY Post, the Wall Street Journal and is one of the largest shareholders in Disney / ABC.
The Biden Administration included in the Inflation Reduction Act funding for incentives for consumers to buy more renewable energy products and appliances in order to reduce carbon emissions. Electric vehicles are one such example and the incentives are limited to those making 150% of the median income in their area.
The Biden Administration has initiated other efforts to curtail the use of fossil fuels, many of which require a larger majority in both the House and Senate than the Democrats now have.
Protecting the American People. CoVid Vaccination Rollout.
Within its first two years, the Biden Administration has more than halved / reduced the federal budget deficit by $1.7 trillion. But that said, America is still running a $1.4 trillion annual deficit, and that deficit along with our record national debt, is the collective responsibility of both Democrats and Republicans. America's funding of its government through debt issuance, coincidentally began shortly after Australian born Oligarch Rupert Murdoch entered the White House during the Reagan years, and began meddling in our politics. Murdoch appears to favor politicians who help him and the other billionaires rob the U.S. Treasury and American people through larcenous tax breaks. The last Murdoch promoted tax break for billionaires was passed by the Republicans and the Donald in December 2017. A multi-trillion dollar plus deficit was first recorded during the Trump Administration, in part due to its response to the CoVid pandemic. It's worth noting that it appears that Murdoch has also been legally robbing the Australian and British people in the same manner.
Foreign Affairs. Exit Afghanistan, Stay out of Ukraine, Help Ukraine Defeat Disgusting Dictator
President Biden oversaw the American exit from Afghanistan. Compared to the last invading nation's exit [Russia], the 20 years of collective Republican and Democratic mismanagement of that conflict, and the timeline set out by the prior administation, I'd say the Administration did a pretty fair job. Unfortunately nobody can prevent suicide bombers without putting the entire nation under lock and key - and even that might not work.
Unfortunately, as is often the case with the TV networks, one of the media outlets [Wall Street Journal] controlled by the Australian born Oligarch, Rupert Murdoch, led the perception narrative of the Biden Administration evacuation from Afghanistan. The Wall Street Journal ignored so many of the facts in their signature oped piece by 'The Editorial Board' [aka Rupert Murdoch], which turned a huge swath of the nation against the President. The Wall St Journal then continued to run the video from mid August into November on its front page [how's that for propaganda?]. The narrative was echoed not just in the Wall Street Journal, but on Murdoch's other propaganda outlets such as the NY Post and Fox News, as well as on many of the lemming TV network news outlets. The editorial ignored many of the realities of the situation faced by the Administration, as well as ignoring Afghanistan's culture, history and our management of that conflict. If you ignore enough facts, you can make black look white and white look red. And wave the red flag at Biden Murdoch's WSJ did. Here's a story we did on the U.S. Withdrawal from Afghanistan at the time.
The Biden Administration included in the Inflation Reduction Act a minimum tax of 15% on large, wealthy, profitable corporations who are paying no tax at all. He also added funding to step up enforcement of corporate tax dodgers. This is likely one of the reasons that Australian born Oligarch Rupert Murdoch has his propagandists continually slant / portray Biden in a negative light.
Contrary to Murdoch's Fox News predictions of disaster in Afghanistan, the U.S. military under the Biden Administration reportedly succeeded in getting terrorist Al Zawahiri in August 2022.
The Biden Administration has kept us out of the Russian Ukrainian war, without ceding a large [44 million people] emerging democracy to the ruthless Russian dictator, Vladimir Putin. Trump called Putin's move brilliant at the beginning of 2022. But to date Putin's invasion looks far from brilliant, as Russia has lost about 20,000 of their soldiers and there are another 60,000 plus Russian soldiers injured. Putin's war to make himself famous has gone so badly that he had to call up a 'partial mobilization' for his 'military operation' in Ukraine.
In response to Putin's call to sacrifice their lives for him, an estimated 200,000 Russians reportedly fled the country to avoid being drafted into Putin's egomaniacal war. To boot, Russia's economy went from about +5% growth in 2021, to about -2% [more?] in 2022. After eight months of Putin's invasion, the Russians are only occupying between 15% - 20% of Ukrainian territory, of which about half [or more?] they had previously captured in 2014. Putin has now made himself a suspected war criminal for allowing and / or promoting crimes against civilian Ukrainian women and children.
So is Trump correct in calling Vladimir Putin brilliant? You decide.
The Biden Administration has led America back into a leadership role for western democracies through improved relations with our traditional allies via NATO and the United Nations.
So why are Democrats running for House and Senate seats ignoring the Biden record?
Maybe because the Democrats running for Congress and the Senate are operating under the misguided perceptions of Biden, manufactured by the billionaire controlled TV media - not on the facts like those contained in this report.
Biden isn't a very good speaker. He has had a speech impediment since he was a child. So, unlike Trump, who sells blather for billions, Biden can't talk his way out of a paper bag. But unlike Trump, Biden knows how to operate the federal government quite effectively. This should come as no surprise, as Biden spent the better portion of his life working the halls of the Senate and Oval Office, while Trump sold New Yorkers and Russians real estate, working on his true calling, which many believe was the 'Art of the Steal'.
So who to trust? The ratings-driven, teleprompter readers regurgiating their billionaire owners' news views on TV - or - the reports by journalists on the web, who do their homework in order to inform their audiences? You decide.
<h1>Staten Island Holiday Events - Staten Island NYC</h1> <h2>Christmas Tree Lightings, Hanukkah Menorah Lightings, & Kwanzaa Candle Lightings on Staten Island and Holiday Events & Things To Do NYC</h2> <p><strong><img class="imgright" src="http://statenbuzz.nyc/photos/File11082.jpeg" alt="staten island halloween parties staten island halloween restaurants staten island kids halloween parties staten island nyc" width="400" height="314" /></strong> December 17, 2021 / <a href="http://www.statenbuzz.nyc/staten-island-neighborhoods---staten-island-nyc-cms-1450">Staten Island Neighborhoods</a> / Staten Island Holiday Events / Staten Island Things To Do / Staten Island Buzz NYC.</p> <p> </p> <p>*** Be sure to visit our <a href="/staten-island-holiday-markets-shopping-events---staten-island-nyc-cms-1469">Staten Island Holiday Markets</a> page, as it contains related holiday events with a shopping element to them.</p> <p>*** For links to <em><strong>holiday events and markets in all five boroughs of NYC</strong></em> scroll down to the bottom of this report.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>EDITOR NOTE</strong>. While it seems we've turned the corner on the CoVid pandemic, it's after effects still linger. Hence a number of holiday events we saw in 2019 may not yet return in 2021 for reasons related to CoVid, or possibly finances. So while they may not return this year, they might make a comeback next year.</p> <p> </p> <h2>How The Staten Island Holiday Events Page on this Page are Organized</h2> <p><strong>These holiday events on Staten Island are organized as follows:</strong></p> <p><strong>1. BY NEIGHBORHOODS OF STATEN ISLAND</strong></p> <p><strong>2. BY DATE </strong></p> <p>Watch carefully as some locales have <strong>multiple dates</strong>, and all dates for a given locale are shown at the time the venue is first listed.</p> <p><strong>3. ALL OF THESE ARE FREE UNLESS FEES ARE SPECIFIED.</strong></p> <p> </p> <h2>Staten Island Holiday Lights, Christmas Tree Lightings, Hanukkah Menorah Lightings, Kwanzaa Candle Lightings Background</h2> <p>The holidays are a special time of the year. In ancient times there were harvest celebrations to give thanks and enjoy the bounty after a long growing and harvesting season aka a year of work.</p> <p>And there were also winter solstice celebrations to commemorate the end of the darkening of the skies. Some cultures celebrate with a festival of lights, and in Christian cultures the holidays are marked with holiday lightings including tree lightings and candle lightings - as well as the celebration of giving through the most well known and most generous man in the world - Santa Claus.</p> <p>Meanwhile, back on Staten Island we celebrate in a number of ways, which carry on some of these ancient traditions. The following provides the dates / times / locales and some details regarding many of the various Staten Island holiday celebrations and Staten Island holiday markets and shopping for folks to enjoy between now and the end of the year.</p> <p>Click here to read our report about <a href="/staten-island-holiday-events-things-to-do---si-nyc-cms-1274">Staten Island Holiday Events / Holiday Things To Do & Staten Island Holiday Markets & Shopping</a>.</p> <div class="divclear"><hr /></div>
Things To Do This Weekend in NYC & Boros
Open House NY all Weekend All Boros, Halloween Festivities Begin; some outdoor Farmers Markets & Street Fairs still open
NYC Weather. The temperature highs will be in the low to mid 60's, while the temperature lows will be in the high 40's on Friday, low 50's on Saturday and the high 50's on Sunday. There's a 50% - 90% chance of about a third of an inch of rain on Sunday, beginning about 2 pm. Winds will be about 5 mph on Friday and Saturday, rising to about 10 mph on Sunday. The humidity will rise from 50% - 65% on Friday, to 55% - 75% on Saturday and to 75% - 90% on Sunday.
The photo at right was taken at a Halloween event in NYC in a prior year. This year a number of organizations have kicked off the Halloween festivities a bit early, with some starting this weekend, some happening throughout the coming week, and many, many more happening over next / Halloween weekend.
On Saturday, October 22, 2022 from 11 am to 5 pm - Treats in the Streets - is an event filled day of activities in the West Village generally designed for kids by the Meatpacking Business Improvement District. The day includes live music, tarot card readings, a couple of hours of drag queen story telling, and the annual Doggie Costume Contest. At Hudson River Park & 14th Street Park and the Gansevort Plaza at Little West 12th and 13th Streets in the West Village. See link above for further details.
Next week during the week. Use the Manhattan Halloween events link above for further details about the following events as well as for information about a number of events Halloween Weekend.
Note that the Harlem Meer Floating Pumpkin Flotilla in Central Park and related events are happening on Wednesday & Thursday, October 26 & 27, 2022 from 4 - 7 pm. There's also a lecture on Witchcraft in NY, followed by a Halloween Trivia Contest at the NY Historical Society on the Upper West Side on Thursday, October 27, 2022 beginning at 6 pm & 8.30 pm respectively.
Wednesday thru Saturday, October 26 - 29 2022 from 6.30 to 10 pm - 50 minute Haunted House Candlelight Tours at The Merchants House Museum that run every half hour. They describe them as follows: " ... by flickering candlelight to hear chilling – and true – tales of decades of otherworldly activity in the house, the results of years of paranormal investigations – and the latest stunning scientific findings. The Tredwell family lived at 29 East 4th Street for nearly 100 years, and at least eight people died in the house. Reports of strange and inexplicable occurrences have been widespread since Gertrude, the last surviving Tredwell, died in 1933 ..."
Things To Do This Weekend in Queens NYC
On Saturday, October 22, 2022 from 12 noon to 5 pm - Queens Halloween / Harvest Events at King Manor in Jamaica. A fall celebration which they describe as follows: " ... This year, we have collaborated with Queens Fiber Arts to provide a festival with dozens of vendors, in addition to a pumpkin patch (Queens County Farm) and rum tasting with the historic Neir’s Tavern ... " The event also includes games, arts & crafts and cider. On Jamaica Avenue and 153rd Street in Jamaica Queens NYC. Free.
On Sunday, October 23, 2022 from 1 to 3.30 pm Astoria Kids Halloween - Batty over Halloween Celebration. The Central Astoria Local Development Coalition is hosting an event which they describe as follows: " ... arts and crafts, face painting, stilt walkers, balloon artists, performances, and more ... ". On the great lawn in Astoria Park where there's an outdoor party.
Next week during the week. Use the Queens Halloween events link above for further details about the following events as well as for information about a number of events Halloween Weekend.
Thursday, October 27, 2022 beginning at 6.30 pm the Culture Lab / Plaxall Gallery are hosting an Inaugural Fall Festival. There will be live performances, food and drinks with the proceeds going to support the Culture Lab. Admission. $135. Culture Lab is located next to the Plaxall Gallery at 5-25 46th Avenue in Long Island City.
Things To Do This Weekend in Brooklyn NYC
On Saturday, October 22, 2022 from 11 am - 4 pm - Brooklyn Bridge Park hosts a Harvest Festival which includes a full day of family fun with participation by between one and two dozen local arts, cultural, community and culinary organizations. They have special events every hour or so and the following activities going on throughout the day including: " ... Arts & Activity Stations with Our Partners, Lawn Games with YMCA, Pumpkin Patch & Decorating, Live Animal Station by Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy Educators, Coffee, cider, and pastries for purchase by Flux Coffee Roaster and Sweetly Brooklyn, Book Giveaway by Brooklyn Book Bodega, and .... a Raffle ... Collect stamps on your passport from different stations around the Pier. Once you have six, visit the Welcome Tent to fill out a raffle ticket...". The Brooklyn Bridge Park is located along the East River beginning just north of the Manhattan Bridge down to Atlantic Avenue. It's eastern border is the Brooklyn Queens Expressway, so there are limited entrances from the Brooklyn Heights and Dumbo neighborhoods. The Harborview Lawn may be accessed by crossing over the BQE at Middaugh Street in Brooklyn Heights. Free.
Friday, Saturday & Sunday, October 21 - 23, 2022 from 12 noon - 4 pm on Friday, & from 12 noon - 8 pm Saturday & Sunday - Live Circus at MCU Park. The amusement park is open from 12 noon to 10 pm. Ticket prices into Luna Park are $30 / $51 based on height, for folks under 4 feet height and those over four feet high, respectively. At Maimonides Stadium at 1904 Surf Avenue. Halloween parties at Luna Park in the Coney Island neighborhood of Brooklyn.
Things To Do This Weekend in the Bronx NYC
On Saturday, October 22, 2022 beginning at 12 noon the 37th Annual South Bronx Halloween Parade & Party in Longwood / Foxhurst Neighborhoods of Bronx begins. The parade is organized by Community Board 2 and begins at Westchester & Southern Blvd, marching south along Southern Blvd, turning right on Intervale and ending at Dawson at the Bill Rainey Park in the Foxhurst / Longwood neighborhood of the Bronx. The parade and after event includes candy giveaways, entertainment and costume prizes. It's still all free and all are welcome.
. For details see Bronx street fairs.Also on Saturday, October 22, 2022 from 11 am - 5 pm there's the Jerome Avenue / Gun Hill Fall Festival
On Saturdays & Sundays, October 1 - 30, 2022 from 10 am - 5 pm the Bronx Zoo operates several Halloween rides / events for the month leading up to and a bit after Halloween. They may cost a small additional fee [$4 - $6] over and above the main entrance ticket. Bronx Halloween events for kids on the weekends included Bootoberfest [at the beer garden], magic shows, an extinct animal graveyard, costume parades, a corn maze, pumpkin carving, a candy trail, skeletons and bones and a wildlife theater. Admission $42 / $37 / $32 and kids under age 2 are free. Advance purchase of tickets required. The Bronx Zoo is located at 2300 Southern Blvd near the Bronx neighborhoods of Belmont.
On Saturday & Sunday, October 22 & 23, 2022 from 11 am to 4 pm - NY Botanical Garden hosts a Pumpkin Parade & Halloween Weekend. From 11 am to 2 pm Materials for the Arts helps kids get ready for the parade. They describe this event as follows: " ... Some of the country’s largest gourds are on hand for a pumpkin party unlike any other! Get crafty with wands and shakers ahead of our Pumpkin Parade, and dress up in your best Halloween outfit as you walk down Garden Way with larger-than-life skeletons and acrobats. Then explore enormous pumpkins from the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth—some weighing in at over a ton—along with live pumpkin carving from artist Adam Bierton, winner of Food Network’s Halloween Wars ..."Admission is $15 for kids, $28 students & $30 for adults. For NYC residents there's a grounds access pass option that costs $15 / $7 / $4. Kids age two and under are free. The New York Botanical Gardens at 2900 Southern Blvd near the Bronx neighborhoods of Belmont, Norwood & Pelham Parkway.
Things To Do This Weekend on Staten Island NYC
Fridays, October 21, 2022 at 8 pm, 9 pm & 10 pm the Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden hosts a one hour Spookly Snug Harbor Tour that departs each hour on Friday nights in October. Here's what they tell us about the flashlight tours: " ... Journey back in time to learn about murder, mayhem, and hauntings at Snug Harbor. Visit the final resting place of Captain Robert Randall, whose wealth willed Snug Harbor into existence, and ponder the mystery of Chaplain Quinn’s murder, a crime that gripped the nation. Learn about the 19th century disaster that rattled the harbor’s buildings and the unlikely reason its sole survivor escaped, and discover a disappearance that sent the institution into a frenzy ...". Admission is $25 / $20 for the one hour tours. At Chapel and Gazebo Roads at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center at 1000 Richmond Terrace in the Randall Manor neighborhood on the north shore of Staten Island.
On Friday, Saturday & Sunday October 21, 22, 23, 2022 from 7 - 8.30 pm Snug Harbor hosts Scary Stories & S'Mores. Here's what they tell us about the event: "... Entertain both your mind and taste buds with scary stories and s’mores! Join our storytelling circle for tales of ghosts, goblins and ghouls, as you enjoy s’mores and sip hot cocoa. Wear a costume and some courage as performer Jack Dabdoub gets you in the Halloween spirit ...". This family event is recommended for families with children aged 7 – 11 years old, and not recommended for children under 6 years.Admission $15 / $12. At the compost demo site next to the Heritage Farm in the Snug Harbor complex at 1000 Richmond Terrace in the Randall Manor neighborhood on the north shore of Staten Island.
Staten Island Halloween Parties & Events 2022 - SI NYC
Halloween Events & Halloween Parties in the North Shore Neighborhoods, the Great Kills area, Historic Richmond Town and Other Neighborhoods on Staten Island
Halloween occurs on a Monday this year. The Staten Island Halloween party celebrations begin leading into the weekend running through to Halloween day itself.
Halloween is one big costume party, where the theatrical side of people, is given a small opening. Halloween provides people the opportunity to create and play roles they have wanted to play, that the day-to-day role playing keeps submerged. On Halloween is it the Doctor side or the Jekyll side - or something in between that emerges? Any which way it can sometimes be very scary : )
In the photo at right are NYC Halloween partiers in an earlier year. While professional actors are paid to assume and perform roles, on Halloween it's an unpaid, all-amateur, theatrical free-for-all ... and the chaos of creativity is also what makes Halloween so much fun.
1st Annual Indigenous People's Parade, Taste of the Seaport, Diwali Times Square, Harvest Festival Carl Schurz Park & NY Film Festival ending at Lincoln Center Manhattan; Taste of Sunnyside in Queens; Oktoberfest in Brooklyn; Fall Festival in the Bronx; Lighthouse Festival on Staten Island; some outdoor Farmers Markets & Street Fairs still open
NYC Weather. The temperature highs will be in the mid 60's and the lows will be in the low 50's. No rain is in the forecast until Monday. Winds will range from 3 - 10 mph and humidity will range from about 50% to 65% - both all weekend.
The photo at right was taken at the Diwali Times Square celebration in a prior year.
We expect to finish our Halloween events page this weekend. A link will be posted here when it's mostly done on either Saturday or Sunday.
Things To Do This Weekend in Manhattan NYC
Saturday, October 15, 2022 beginning at 12 noon to 3 pm - 1st Annual Indigenous People's Parade. The parade begins at 26th Street and South Broadway in Midtown and marches down to 17th Street where there will likely be some impromptu activity in Union Square Park.
Saturday, October 15, 2022 from 1 - 9 pm - Diwali Times Square - A celebration of the Hindu festival of lights in Times Square.
Saturday, October 15, 2022 from 12 noon to 5 pm - Taste of the Seaport - At Piers 16 & 17 along the East River at the South Street Seaport. Entertainment, kids activities and about 40 food & beverage purveyors with proceeds going to arts and enrichment programs at two public elementary schools - PS 343 Peck Slip School & PS 397 Spruce Street School. Last year tickets cost $10 for 5 tastes at www.tasteoftheseaport.org.
The NY Film Festival continues at Lincoln Center and runs through Sunday, October 16th. See https://www.filmlinc.org for details and tickets.
Sunday, October 16, 2022 from 1 - 3 pm - Harvest Festival at Carl Schurz Park on the Mayor's lawn at End End and East 88th Street. Live entertainment, scarecrow, pumpkin patch & pumpkin decorating. Free - details at www.carlschurzparknyc.org.
Next Week _ Sunday, October 23, 2022 from 11 am - 5 pm - Korean Festival - In Union Square Park at Park Avenue and 14th Street and Broadway and 17th Street - Manhattan street fairs. NYC.
Things To Do This Weekend in Queens NYC
Sunnyside _ Sunday, October 16, 2022 - Taste of Sunnyside Restaurant Crawl - from 2 - 7 pm. - Meet at Lowery Plaza underneath the #7 subway line at 40th Street and Queens Blvd in Sunnyside Queens. Tickets $50 - $75. You're given a pass to enter about two dozen different participating restaurants. For tickets and details see - https://sunnysideshines.org/
The Queens World Film Festival starts November 1. Details coming soon.
Things To Do This Weekend in Brooklyn NYC
Saturday, October 15, 2022 from 6.30 - 9.30 pm - Bay Ridge Catholic Oktoberfest. At Meletia Hall at St Anselm School at 365 83rd Street in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. The event includes light fare, beer, music and raffles. Tickets are $25 adults / $10 kids.
Things To Do This Weekend in the Bronx NYC
Saturday, October 15, 2022 from 12 noon to 4 pm - Fall Festival at St. James Park. This event is being hosted by Councilmember Sanchez. Games, crafts and sports. Free.
Next Week - Saturday, October 22, 2022 from 11 am - 5 pm. Jerome Avenue / Gun Hill Fall Festival in the Bronx. Along Jerome Avenue from East Mosholu Parkway to East Gun Hill Road in the Bronx. This street fair in the Norwood neighborhood of the Bronx will have food, shopping, arts & crafts, music, games, pumpkins and pet adoption.
Things To Do This Weekend on Staten Island NYC
Rescheduled to October 16, 2022 _ St George _ Sunday, October 2, 2022 from 12 noon - 6 pm. Annual Point Lighthouse Festival - At 200 / The Promenade at Lighthouse Point in the St. George neighborhood. The festival includes live bands, local vendors of arts & crafts, food and programs for adults & kids. $3 suggested donation & $7 with chowder sampling. Staten Island street fairs / festivals in St. George. See lighthousemuseum.org for details.
Have a nice weekend.
Things To Do This Weekend in NYC & Boros
Columbus Day Parades & Celebrations in 4 Boros; Comic Con & NY Film Festival at Lincoln Center Manhattan; St Lukes Rummage Sale, Oktoberfest, Fall for Arts on Roosevelt Island and Durga Puja ends in Queens; Panamanian PreIndependence Day Parade & Zum Schneider Fest in Brooklyn; Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration & Randalls Island Park Alliance Festival in the Bronx; Mount Loretto Italian Festival, Staten Island Arts Festival and Closing Weekend for Comedy at Victory Theatre on Staten Island; some outdoor Farmers Markets & Street Fairs still open
NYC Weather. The temperature highs will fall from the mid 70's on Friday to just below 60 on Saturday, and then rising back into the low to mid 60's on Sunday and Monday. The temperature lows will start around 50 on Friday, and then falling to the mid 40's on Saturday, rising to the high 40's on Sunday and Monday. The humidity will be in a comfortable 50% - 65% range all weekend. No rain is in the forecast, so all in all it looks to be perfect fall weekend weather through the holiday. Enjoy it as the winter is a'coming.
The photo at right was taken at the Astoria Columbus Day Parade in an earlier year. The parade returns Saturday.
Things To Do This Weekend in Manhattan NYC
Thursday - Sunday, October 6 - 9, 2022 - Comic Con returns to Manhattan. At the Javits Center at 655 West 34th Street at 11th Avenue in West Midtown. For details and tickets see - https://www.newyorkcomiccon.com/
The NY Film Festival continues at Lincoln Center and runs through Sunday, October 16th. See https://www.filmlinc.org for details and tickets.
On Sunday, October 9, 2022 beginning at 12 noon, the Hispanic Day Parade begins marching up 5th Avenue from 44th to 69th Street.
There's a Columbus Day Parade on the Upper East Side on Monday 10/10/22. The Manhattan Columbus Day Parade begins at 12 noon on Fifth Avenue at 44th Street and marching up to 72nd Street along the Upper East Side. Check the front page of this website for other things to do over the Columbus Day Weekend in Manhattan.
Things To Do This Weekend in Queens NYC
Saturday, October 8, 2022 rescheduled from October 1 [weather] from 12 noon to 5 pm - Sunnyside Gardens Park Oktoberfest - At Sunnyside Gardens Park at 48-21 39th Avenue. Arts, crafts, food, pumpkin patch & games open to public. St festivals in Sunnyside Queens NYC. Free, but registration is suggested at their website - https://sunnysidegardenspark.org/
There's a Columbus Day Parade in Astoria Queens on the Saturday before Columbus Day beginning at 12 noon at Kaufman Studios and marching up Steinway Street and then 31st Avenue. Check the front page of this website for other things to do on Columbus Day in Queens.
Saturday, October 8, 2022 rescheduled from October 1 [weather] from 10 am - 5 pm The Fall for Arts Festival was to return to Roosevelt Island. In Southpoint Park at FDR Four Freedoms Park on the Rivercross Lawn on Roosevelt Island. A day full of activities for everyone including murals painting, arts & crafts, musical performances and food vendors. Free.
Durga Puja ends this weekend at various locations throughout NYC, but most notably in the Woodside, Jackson Heights, Jamaica and Richmond Hill neighborhoods in Queens. Durga Puja celebrates the goddess Durga, who is a motherhood figure representing the victory of good over evil. The celebrations, which cover a week of activity, are also something of a Hindu harvest festival. See this Facebook page for a listing of Durga Puja events in NYC and on Long Island - https://www.facebook.com/pujaprogramme/
On Saturday and Sunday, October 8 & 9, 2022 from 10 am - 4 pm and 12.30 - 4.30 pm respectively, the St Lukes Rummage sale returns to Forest Hills in Queens. The sale is held at St. Lukes Episcopalian Church at 83 Greenway South in Forest Hills. The sale is quite different from the usual street fair markets in that they the sale offers used vintage and boutique fashions, books, recordings, jewelry, men’s, women’s and children’s clothing, toys, linens, appliances, housewares and more.
Things To Do This Weekend in Brooklyn NYC
Saturday, October 8, 2022 parade begins at 12 pm - Annual Columbus Day Parade. Begins at 61st Street and 18th Avenue [aka Cristoforo Columbo Blvd] down to 86th Street following a 10.15 am Mass at St. Athanasius Church at 2154 61st Street in Bensonhurst / Mapleton. The parade ends at 18th Avenue / 86th Street / Benson Avenue where a street fair / festival follows the parade and runs until 6 pm along Benson Avenue between 18th Avenue and 19th Street. Brooklyn street fairs in Bensonhurst. www.fiaobrooklyn.org
Saturday, October 8, 2022 from 10.30 am - 7 pm. Panamanian Pre-Independence Day Parade & Festival. Begins at Bergen Street, heading down Franklin Avenue. Turns west at President Street and heads north along Classon Avenue ending at Eastern Parkway by the Brooklyn Museum. The street fair is along Classon between President Street and the Eastern Parkway. Parades in Brooklyn. www.panamanianparade.org
From Friday, September 30 - Sunday October 9, 2022 on the weekends [including Thursdays] only from 5 - 10 pm on Thursdays and Fridays, two seatings on Saturday from 12 noon - 4.45 pm and from 5.15 - 10 pm; and on Sunday from 12 noon - 8 pm - Zum Schneider Fest. This is a traditional Bavarian Oktoberfest which heretofore had been held in Manhattan along the East River at 23rd Street. This year the tent is being erected near the 3 Dollar Bill at 260 Meserole Street in Brooklyn. Tickets start at $13 / $53 / $129 and on up for groups. For details see https://nyc.zumschneider.com/
Things To Do This Weekend in the Bronx NYC
There's also the 45th Annual Bronx Columbus Day Parade which starts at 12 noon on Sunday 10/9/22 at Barnes Avenue [near White Plains Rd] and Morris Park Ave, then turns left on Williamsbridge Rd, and eventually ends at Lydig Avenue [one block shy of the Pelham Parkway] in the Morris Park neighborhood of the Bronx.
There's an Indigenous People's celebration at Icahn Stadium on Randalls Island on Sunday and Monday. Details coming.
Saturday, October 8, 2022 [rescheduled from October 1] from 12 noon - 3 pm - Randall's Island Park Alliance Festival - This festival includes pumpkin decorating, glitter tattoos, face painting and scarecrows. Farm exploration & harvest sampling, cider & doughnuts, and a pop-up shop with Boogie Down Books. Also live music by Pete Nater & Associates. In the Urban Farm near Fields 62 - 63 in Randall's Island, just north of Ward's Meadow on the southeast tip of the island. Cider, cookies, doughnuts, dance class, pumpkin decorating, Latin dance class and live music. The Randall's Island Park Alliance is hosting a harvest celebration. Free.
Things To Do This Weekend on Staten Island NYC
Friday - Monday, October 7 - 10, 2022 from 6 pm - 11 pm Fri, Saturday 12 noon - 11 pm, Sunday 12 noon - 9 pm, Monday 12 noon - 6 pm - Italian Festival at the Mount. At Mount Loretto at 6481 Hylan Blvd in the Charleston neighborhood of Staten Island [near Prince's Bay & Pleasant Plains]. The event includes food, beer, rides, culture and entertainment. This replaced the Columbus Day Parade celebration in New Dorp starting in 2014. Admission $5 Adults / Kids free.
Clever Little Lies is a comedy that opened at the Victory Theater on Staten Island. The play runs from September 29th thru October 9th on the weekends. For tickets and details see - http://www.littlevictorytheatre.com
The Staten Island art, craft and gift show returns to the Staten Island Mall from Wednesday, October 5th thru Monday, October 10, 2022 from 11 am - 7 pm on Wednesday & Thursday, Friday & Saturday from 10 am - 8 pm, and Sunday 12 noon - 6 pm. At the Staten Island Mall at 2655 Richmond Avenue in the New Springville neighborhood. It's a gift fair.
Rescheduled from October 2, 2022 - On Sunday, October 16, 2022 from 12 noon - 6 pm - The Lighthouse Festival returns to the National Lighthouse Museum in St. George on Staten Island. Arts, crafts and entertainment. For details and $3 suggested donation tickets see - https://lighthousemuseum.org/
Have a good weekend.
Things To Do This Weekend in NYC & Boros
American Craft Festival Returns & NY Film Festival Begins at Lincoln Center, the Fall for Dance Fest Continues, the Nigerian Day Parade & African Festival, Pulaski Day Parade Returns all in Manhattan; Oktoberfest and Durga Puja Begin and the Fall for Arts Festival in Queens; Downtown Brooklyn Arts Festival, the Zum Schneider Fest and the Atlantic Antic in Brooklyn; Randalls Island Festival, 'Monster' Play at the Bartow Pell Mansion & Stage Garden Rumba in the Bronx; New Comedy Opens and the Lighthouse Festival on Staten Island; Yom Kippur Tuesday Evening, also Farmers Markets, Street Fairs & more ...
NYC Weather. The temperature highs will be in the high 50's and the temperature lows will be in the high 40's. It will be humid on Saturday, between 80% - 90%, and then descending to 60% - 75% on Sunday. It will also be windy, with winds blowing at about 15 mph throughout the weekend. There's a 25% chance of a small amount of rain Saturday, and a 75% chance of some rain, most likely between 11 am and 7 pm on Sunday.
The photo at right was taken at a prior Pulaski Day Parade in Manhattan. See below for details about the parade this weekend.
Things To Do This Weekend in Manhattan NYC
The Fall for Dance Festival began on Wednesday, September 21 at the NY City Center at 131 West 55th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues. The program runs through Sunday, October 2, 2022. Performances begin at 8 pm each night, except this coming Sunday & Monday, September 25th & 26th. Tickets are $20 and performances last about an hour and a half. For details and tickets - https://www.nycitycenter.org/
The NY Film Festival begins today, Friday, September 30th at Lincoln Center and runs through Sunday, October 16th. See https://www.filmlinc.org for details and tickets.
On Saturday & Sunday, October 1 & 2, 2022 from 10 am - 7 pm and until 5 pm on Sunday - American Craft Festival returns to Damrosch Park at Lincoln Center. This is an unusual street fair, featuring the works of over 150 artists and craftspeople. It's a two day street fair on the Upper West Side.
Midtown _ Saturday, October 1, 2022 from 10 am to 1.30 pm - Nigerian Independence Day Parade - Starts along 2nd Avenue at East 54th Street and marches south to 44th Street - Manhattan parades - see related Midtown street fair below.
Midtown _ Saturday, October 1, 2022 from - 1.30 pm - 6 pm - Nigerian Independence Day Carnival - Along East 47th Street between 1st & 2nd Avenues. Celebrating 40 African nations decades of independence - Manhattan street fairs.
On Sunday, October 2, 2022 beginning at 12.30 pm - The Pulaski Day Parade returns to Manhattan. The parade begins at 36th Street and marches up to 53rd Street.
Thursday - Sunday, October 6 - 9, 2022 - Comic Con returns to Manhattan. At the Javits Center at 655 West 34th Street at 11th Avenue in West Midtown. For details and tickets see - https://www.newyorkcomiccon.com/
Things To Do This Weekend in Queens NYC
Rescheduled to October 8, 2022 - On Saturday, October 1, 2022 from 10 am - 5 pm The Fall for Arts Festival was to return to Roosevelt Island. In Southpoint Park at FDR Four Freedoms Park on the Rivercross Lawn on Roosevelt Island. A day full of activities for everyone including murals painting, arts & crafts, musical performances and food vendors. Free.
Rescheduled to October 8, 2022 _ Sunnyside _ Saturday, October 1, 2021 from 12 noon to 5 pm - Sunnyside Gardens Park Oktoberfest - At Sunnyside Gardens Park at 48-21 39th Avenue. Arts, crafts, food, pumpkin patch & games open to public. St festivals in Sunnyside Queens NYC. Free, but registration is suggested at their website - https://sunnysidegardenspark.org/
On Saturday & Sunday, October 1 & 2, 2022 from 12 noon to 12 midnight and 10 pm respectively - Oktoberfest at the Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden in Astoria. The Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden are located at 29-19 24th Avenue [at 31st Street]. They're going to have pig roast, live entertainment and food and drink specials. Free admission.
Durga Puja begins this weekend at various locations throughout NYC, but most notably in the Woodside, Jackson Heights, Jamaica and Richmond Hill neighborhoods in Queens. Durga Puja celebrates the goddess Durga, who is a motherhood figure representing the victory of good over evil. The celebrations, which cover a week of activity, are also something of a Hindu harvest festival. See this Facebook page for a listing of Durga Puja events in NYC and on Long Island - https://www.facebook.com/pujaprogramme/
Things To Do This Weekend in Brooklyn NYC
Friday & Saturday , September 30 - October 1 2022 from 4 pm - 8 pm and 11 am - 8 pm respectively - Downtown Brooklyn Arts Festival. In the Plaza at 300 Ashland Place at the corner of Lafayette and Flatbush. This event will feature live music, dance, talks and theater. There might be some shopping, but that doesn't appear to be the focus. Downtown Brooklyn street fairs / festivals nyc. www.dbartsfestival.org/
From Friday, September 30 - Sunday October 9, 2022 on the weekends [including Thursdays] only from 5 - 10 pm on Thursdays and Fridays, two seatings on Saturday from 12 noon - 4.45 pm and from 5.15 - 10 pm; and on Sunday from 12 noon - 8 pm - Zum Schneider Fest. This is a traditional Bavarian Oktoberfest which heretofore had been held in Manhattan along the East River at 23rd Street. This year the tent is being erected near the 3 Dollar Bill at 260 Meserole Street in Brooklyn. Tickets start at $13 / $53 / $129 and on up for groups. For details see https://nyc.zumschneider.com/
The photo at right was taken at the Zum Schneider Fest in Manhattan in 2018. They've been on hiatus since 2019, but are returning - at a new location in Brooklyn - beginning tonight.
On Sunday, October 2, 2022 from 12 noon - 6 pm - the Atlantic Antic. Along Atlantic Avenue from 4th Avenue [near Flatbush Avenue] to the East River in Boerum Hill. This Brooklyn Street Fair is billed as the largest and oldest street festival in Brooklyn and has ethnic food, live entertainment and shopping. For details see - https://www.atlanticave.org/
On Sunday, October 2, 2022 beginning at 12.30 pm - The Pulaski Day Parade returns to Manhattan. The parade begins at 36th Street and marches up to 53rd Street.
Things To Do This Weekend in the Bronx NYC
Rescheduled to October 8 _ * Randall's Island _ Saturday, October 1, 2022 from 12 noon - 3 pm - Randall's Island Park Alliance Festival - This festival includes pumpkin decorating, glitter tattoos, face painting and scarecrows. Farm exploration & harvest sampling, cider & doughnuts, and a pop-up shop with Boogie Down Books. Also live music by Pete Nater & Associates. In the Urban Farm near Fields 62 - 63 in Randall's Island, just north of Ward's Meadow on the southeast tip of the island. Cider, cookies, doughnuts, dance class, pumpkin decorating, Latin dance class and live music. The Randall's Island Park Alliance is hosting a harvest celebration. Free.
Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday, September 29 - October 2, 2022 beginning at 7.30 pm except Sunday when it's from 2 - 3 pm - Monster. At the Bartow Pell Mansion at 895 Shore Road in Pelham Bay Park. The play is an adaptation based on the book Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. The play will take the audience through the Bartow Pell Mansion and include themes of humanism morality, science, death and horror. Tickets are $30 - $35 which you may find at https://www.bartowpellmansionmuseum.org/events/monster/
Piazza di Belmont has ended for the season.
Things To Do This Weekend on Staten Island NYC
Clever Little Lies is a comedy that opened at the Victory Theater on Staten Island. The play runs from September 29th thru October 9th on the weekends. For tickets and details see - http://www.littlevictorytheatre.com
Rescheduled from October 2, 2022 - On Sunday, October 16, 2022 from 12 noon - 6 pm - The Lighthouse Festival returns to the National Lighthouse Museum in St. George on Staten Island. Arts, crafts and entertainment. For details and $3 suggested donation tickets see - https://lighthousemuseum.org/
The Staten Island art, craft and gift show returns to the Staten Island Mall from Wednesday, October 5th thru Monday, October 10, 2022 from 11 am - 7 pm on Wednesday & Thursday, Friday & Saturday from 10 am - 8 pm, and Sunday 12 noon - 6 pm. At the Staten Island Mall at 2655 Richmond Avenue in the New Springville neighborhood. It's a gift fair.
Things To Do on Staten Island Over The Columbus Day Weekend
September 27, 2022 / Things To Do NYC / Staten Buzz NYC.
Also see updated Weather on Friday afternoon by clicking the header above to go to the Front Page for Weekend Update.
This report contains a listing of some of the things to do on Staten Island over the Columbus Day Weekend including art museums, theaters, live music / comedy / dance venues, sporting & social events, and restaurants for Staten Island NYC.
Staten Island Weather. As of September 27, 2022, the Temperature highs will be in the high 60's all four days of the long weekend. The temperature lows will be in the low 50's throughout the weekend. There's a chance of a small amount of rain, but the probability of rain as of this writing, is in the low double digits. Winds will be about 5 - 10 mph Friday and Monday and between 5 - 10 mph on all weekend. The Humidity will be between 55% - 70% throughout the weekend. Click for Staten Island Weather.
This weekend you can go bicycling on Staten Island, play soccer & other games in Staten Island parks, go shopping on Staten Island, attend Staten Island parades, watch theater, visit the Staten Island art museums, and eat out at one of the Staten Island restaurants.
And it's all happening right here in Staten Island. So take your time to sort through the days and locations and start planning your weekend.
Columbus Day Events on Staten Island
Click here to obtain information about things to do Columbus Day Weekend on Staten Island. This events calendar is updated monthly with dozens of different Staten Island fun cultural events.
There's a Columbus Day Parade Weekend Italian Cultural Festival at Mount Loretto that begins Friday and runs through Monday, October 7 - 10, 2022. We'll have more on our Front Page on the Friday of Columbus Day Weekend. The Staten Island Columbus Day parade was cancelled in 2014.
Staten Island Public & Private Parks & Public Indoor Swimming Pools
Staten Island has one of number of public parks of which a few include swimming facilities. Click here for a listing of the Staten Island Parks including maps showing their locations along with a bit of park history. This is coming at a later date.
NYC public indoor swimming pools are now open.
NYC Golfing on Staten Island
Staten Island has four golf courses and all of them are open this weekend. The Silver Lake Golf Course is located at 915 Victory Blvd in the northeastern section of Staten Island near the Silver Lake neighborhood. It's only short bus ride from the Staten Island Ferry Terminal in St. George. The La Tourette Golf Course is located at 1001 Richmond Hill Road near Historic Richmond Town and Lighthouse Hill neighborhoods in the center of Staten Island. The South Shore Golf Course is located at 200 Hugenot Road in the southwestern part of Staten Island in the Rossville neighborhood. It is home to the Grand Oaks Country Club. And the NYC Junior Golf Club is located at 66 Pitney Road at the southern end of Staten Island in the Woodrow neighborhood. Click here for details about Staten Island golf courses including maps and links to the operators' websites. The links are coming at a later date.
First Day of Autumn began Thursday Evening, Global Citizen Concert Returns Saturday, Fall for Dance Celebration Begins, Feast of San Gennaro ends Sunday; Great Irish Fair, Oktoberest at Fort Hamiltion & Local Play in Brooklyn; Hispanic Day Parade, Bell Blvd Stroll & Oktoberfest and Durga Puja Begin next weekend in Queens; Hip Hop Museum Opens, Native American Festival, Bronx Night Market, Stage Garden Rumba in the Bronx; Local Play on Staten Island; Rosh Hashanah Begins Sunday ... also Farmers Markets, Street Fairs & more
NYC Weather. The temperature highs will be in the mid 60's on Friday, about 70 on Saturday, rising to the mid 70's on Sunday. The temperature lows will be around 50 on Friday, rising to the mid 50's on Saturday and to about 60 on Sunday. The winds will be about 15 mph on Friday, falling to 5 - 10 mph the rest of the weekend. The humidity will rise from 40% - 50% on Friday, to 40% - 60% on Saturday, and then up to 60% - 80% on Sunday. No rain is in the forecast until after 4 pm on Sunday, when there's a 50% chance of about a tenth of an inch of rain.
The photo at right was taken earlier this week at the United Nations while President Biden was delivering a speech about protecting our democratic institutions and rule of law. This means helping other democracies, in order to preserve and protect our way of life from autocrats and dictators who inevitably steal power and wealth away from everyone else in society.
The first day of Autumn began Thursday evening 9/22/22 around 9 pm.
Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, begins Sunday evening and ends Tuesday evening.
Things To Do This Weekend in Manhattan NYC
The photo at right was taken earlier this week at the United Nations. Those two people traversing the rooftop of the building aren't roof repairmen.
On Saturday, the Global Citizen Concert returns to the Great Lawn in Central Park which lies between 5th Avenue and Central Park West and between 72nd Street and 86th Street. The gates open at 2 pm and the concert begins at 4 pm. You must bring printed tickets as mobile tickets are not being accepted. Admission $250 - $299 via www.ticketmaster.com. For further details on the concert see https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/festival/nyc/2022/
Thursday - Sunday, September 15 - 25, 2022 times vary - The San Gennaro Festival. This is an 11 day Italian festival that runs through Sunday, September 25th. There's a canoli eating contest today 9/16 beginning at 1 pm and tomorrow 9/17 there's a procession through Little Italy that starts at 2 pm. See their website for details of all events - https://sangennaronyc.org/
The Fall for Dance Festival began on Wednesday, September 21 at the NY City Center at 131 West 55th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues. The program runs through next week, ending Sunday, October 2, 2022. Performances begin at 8 pm each night, except this coming Sunday & Monday, September 25th & 26th. Tickets are $20 and performances last about an hour and a half. For details and tickets - https://www.nycitycenter.org/
The NY Film Festival begins next Friday, September 30th at Lincoln Center and runs through Sunday, October 16th.
Things To Do This Weekend in Queens NYC
Sunday, September 25, 2022 from 12 noon - 5 pm - Bell Blvd Stroll - A food and shopping festival with music and entertainment along Bell Blvd from Northern Blvd to 45th Avenue. Street fairs in Bayside Queens NYC.
Sunday, September 25, 2022 beginning at 11 am - Hispanic Day Parade. Begins along 37th Avenue from 69th Street to 86th Street. Parades and street fairs in Jackson Heights Queens NYC. https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Nonprofit-organization/Desfile-Hispano-de-Queens-920602374687827/
Athens Square Park continues to have Greek Tuesday night music, dance & theatrical performances thru September. Athens Park is located at 30th Avenue & 30th Street in Astoria.
Oktoberfest begins next weekend at the Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden in Astoria.
Durga Puja begins next weekend at various locations throughout NYC, but most notably in the Woodside, Jackson Heights, Jamaica and Richmond Hill neighborhoods in Queens. Durga Puja celebrates the goddess Durga, who is a motherhood figure representing the victory of good over evil. The celebrations, which cover a week of activity, are also something of a Hindu harvest festival.
On September 28, 2022 is the Chocolate Factory first Annual Gala Fundraiser. The event begins at 6 pm at their new theater at 38-33 24th Street in Long Island City. Gala tickets are $250 and after party tickets are $30. For details see - https://chocolatefactorytheater.org/gala-2022/
Things To Do This Weekend in Brooklyn NYC
Saturday, September 24, 2022 from 11 am - 9 pm. Annual Great Irish Fair.NEW LOCATION - At the Holy Name of Jesus Parish at 245 Prospect Park West in Prospect Park. Brooklyn fair with an Irish flavor. Tickets are $28 on Eventbrite. This is a Brooklyn street fair with an Irish flavor including music, dance, theater, food and shopping. Organized by the Irish American Building Society.
Saturday, September 24, 2022 from 4 to 9 pm - Oktoberfest. An authentic German Oktoberfest with food, a biergarten & live music. There will be contests including a Stein Hoist, a Bratwurst Eating Contest, a Best Dressed Dirndl and Lederhosen and a Keg Toss. It's open to the public on the Fort Hamilton Army base, but walk on access only. The event is sponsored by St. Joseph University, which does not imply any Federal Endorsement. Admission $5. For details, tickets and registration which is required see - https://hamilton.armymwr.com/calendar/event/oktoberfest/5649924/71185
Friday & Saturday , September 30 - October 1 2022 from 4pm - 8 pm and 11 am - 8 pm respectively - Downtown Brooklyn Arts Festival. In the Plaza at 300 Ashland Place at the corner of Lafayette and Flatbush. This event will feature live music, dance, talks and theater. There might be some shopping, but that doesn't appear to be the focus. Downtown Brooklyn street fairs / festivals nyc. www.dbartsfestival.org/
Things To Do This Weekend in the Bronx NYC
Saturday, September 24, 2022 from 12 noon - 3 pm - Bronx River Alliance Community Paddle - Enter Concrete Park at the Westchester Avenue Park entrance in Longwood. This is a three hour opportunity for adults and kids to try their hand at paddling a small boat on the Bronx River. Free. Not a street fair, but rather community activities - just north of Hunts Point and just west of Soundview.
The Hip Hop Museum is now open Tuesday through Saturday from 12 noon - 7 pm and on Sunday from 12 - 6.30 pm. Their entrance is located on the ground level at 610 Exterior Street, next door to Hostos Community College Media Center. You may also enter from the Lower Level in the parking garage next to Pizza Studio. Proof of vaccination, or a negative COVID-19 test within 24 hours is required for entry. Space is limited.
Saturday, September 24, 2022 from 1 to 8 pm - Bronx Night Market in Fordham Plaza just south of the train station. It's a diversified food fest.
Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays in September of 2022 from 6pm to 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and 1pm to 9pm on Sundays - Piazza di Belmont - Outdoor dining on Arthur Avenue which will be closed to vehicular traffic from East 188th Street to Crescent Avenue during the above mentioned times.
Saturday & Sunday, September 24 & 25, 2022 and Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday, September 29 -- October 2, 2022 beginning at 7.30 pm except Sundays when it's from 2 - 3 pm - Monster. At the Bartow Pell Mansion at 895 Shore Road in Pelham Bay Park. The play is an adaptation based on the book Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. The play will take the audience through the Bartow Pell Mansion and include themes of humanism morality, science, death and horror. Tickets are $30 - $35 which you may find at https://www.bartowpellmansionmuseum.org/events/monster/
Sunday, September 25, 2022 from 12 noon - 4 pm. Bronx Native American Festival - In Pelham Bay Park in the south picnic area. Master of Ceremonies Bobby Gonzales [Taino], The Silvercloud Singers and Thunderbird American Dancers [both of latter groups are inter-tribal]. Food, music, dance and storytelling. Street fairs & festivals in the Pelham Bay Park neighborhood of the East Bronx. For details see - https://www.pelhambaypark.org/events/bronx-native-american-festival
Things To Do This Weekend on Staten Island NYC
Saturday, September 24, 2022 from 11 am - 5 pm - 72nd Fence Show at Snug Harbor. At the Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden at 1000 Richmond Terrace in the Randall Manor neighborhood of Staten Island. This is a long-running tradition featuring 140 artists who sell their creations on the Snug Harbor lawn. This year they've added a biergarten, where you can pay $25 for a couple of brews, a German pretzel and and homebrew club tastings [whatever that means].
Saturday, September 24, 2022 from 12 noon - 7 pm -The Rolling Thunder Oktoberfest celebration is being held at William H. Pouch Camp at 1285 Manor Road in the Greenbelt just south of Manor Heights. It was formerly held in Historic Richmond Town. There will be food, beer, rides, games, shopping and live entertainment. Admission is $10. Proceeds go to Veterans in Need and it's organized by Rolling Thunder and the Rotary Clubs of Staten Island. For details see - https://sioktoberfest.com/
Clever Little Lies is a comedy coming to the Victory Theater on Staten Island from September 29th thru October 9th on the weekends. For details see - http://www.littlevictorytheatre.com
NYC Weather. The temperature highs will be in the low 80's on Tuesday & Wednesday, dropping to the low 70's on Thursday and the mid 60's on Friday., The temperature lows will rise from the mid 60's on Monday & Tuesday to the low 70's on Wednesday, and then fall into the mid to low 50's on Thursday and Friday. The winds will be 10 - 15 mph all week. The humidity will be 55% - 65% all week, except on Friday when it falls to 45% - 55%. There's a small chance of a small amount of rain in Thursday, with the probability gone by mid afternoon.
NYC White Collar Office Workers Continue to Resist a Full Return to the Office
As we noted last week, in our update, people are returning to mass transit. While weekend ridership on the subways has reached about 90%, weekday ridership lags behind at about 65% of prepandemic levels. One of the main drivers of the lower weekday ridership is that folks haven't yet resumed embraced a full return to the office at anywhere near prepandemic levels.
For about the past six months, only about 10% of white collar office workers in Manhattan, go to the office daily. But the number of people in the office each day has risen from about 38% to 49%, according to Parnership for New York City, a non-profit dedicated to primarily promoting the economic interests of NYC. Also, the percentage of workers staying fully remote dropped from 28% to 16% over the same six month period [April - September]. Nearly four out of five employers [77%] indicated that the preferred business model [demanded per employees] is now ready to accommodate folks who only want to travel to the office three of the five days in a work week.
Nobody is yet saying this, but it's my guesstimate, that over time, employees who are in the office more frequently are going to win out over those who are working remotely. And because of that phenomenon, I also guesstimate that over time, more folks will start spending more time in the office. But this may take years to play out.
There's a flip side of the coin above, which is that employers who accommodate remote workers, especially women who want to spend time rearing their children, could, over time, attract and retain some of the best and the brightest, even if they don't pay top dollar. For some, including myself, money matters - but it isn't everything.
As I look at what I've just written I see a potential lawsuit - discriminatory pay based on gender. But could it be discriminatory pay based on remote working? This discussion might have some parallels to the discussion below about dictatorships vs democracy and about valuing loyalty over talent.
Ultimately, time will tell, and it will be interesting to see how this all plays out. One thing is clear, many of us - if not all - are not going back to the status quo.
Speaking of Working Remotely, How about the United Nations in General Assembly?
Since 2019, the United Nations has met primarily remotely. They missed 2020 and 2021, but this year, they're back in session live. So for the next nine days those who travel up and down the east side in the 40's and above and below, will be heard complaining of the traffic jams. The jams will be most pronounced this week, particulary starting Tuesday, when all the dignitaries travel from the funeral of Queen Elizabeth, to the UN General Assembly Session in NYC.
On Wednesday, President Biden will address the United Nations, to talk about many things including the Ukrainian War and the ongoing threats to democracy worldwide. It is my opinion, that the threats to democracy include most - if not all autocrats. Dictators by any name [such as the Russian and Chinese 'presidents'] are a destabilizing x factor in the world today. Thus, it's no surprise that the two most powerful dictator presidents [how's that for an oxymoron?] won't be in attendance at the United Nations General Assembly this year. Those are Russian dictator president Putin and Chinese dictator president Xi Jinping. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the President of Ethiopia will also not be in attendance. On the latter two, no reasons have been given.
Dictatorships vs Democracies - Sociopathic Loyalty vs Unfettered Talent
I think it's worth noting here, that the difference between dictatorships and democracies is that democracies operate under rule of law, while dictatorships operate under rule by one man's or a few men's decree. In a democracy if someone has a point of view that resonates with the general public it can be heard, while in a dictatorship only a few people's point of view is given any attention. So what happens in a dictatorship is that the truth is suppressed, oftentime by harsh or violent measures, because it lays bare the idiocy of the dictator. Because of that, loyalty - not talent - is how people are evaluated in dictatorships, oftentimes leading to the promotion of the most brutal people in society instead of the most intelligent, most learned, most experienced and most talented. Sad, but true. In dictatorships the morons and the psychopaths are elevated to positions of power.
If you want to know why, for ten million years, mankind lived pretty much similar lives [meaning hand to mouth], and then suddenly in the 1600's onward, mankind flourished, you need only look at the people wresting power away from monarchs, who were and oftentimes still are [Saudi Royals], brutal dictators who hoard all of their society's resources.
Over the Thanksgiving holiday the past few years I began cataloguing the accomplishments of those in our free societies. Their accomplishments represent most of mankind's progress the past few centuries, and one might even say progress the past few millenia and beyond. Copy and paste this link for the full story -
Why did the American TV Networks Behave like a Sycophantic Royalist Clique?
The past week of the network TV news organizations' coverage of Queen Elizabeth's death and funeral made me - as I said last week - feel a need to barf. If they spent that kind of money, that kind of energy and that kind airtime on things that really matter, this world wouldn't be as messed up as it currently is. What the TV newsfolks presented this past week was a lot of fluffy pageantry and obsequious nothingness, for a extremely wealthy old woman and her 'royal' family. A family that has so much wealth, that they took from so many of their fellow country[wo]men [and others via the colonial empire], and with which they have done so little that really matters.
That said, I must applaud former Prince Charles for his support in pursuit of remedies for climate change. But Queen Elizabeth seemed to do nothing at all for mankind, and I saw nothing on TV [no facts] that convinced me otherwise.
I reckon the TV announcers have forgotten that this is the same family that America had to go to war with, to obtain its freedom about 250 years ago. King George III, who was defeated in the American Revolutionary War, was the great, great, great grandfather of Queen Elizabeth. Little mention was made of the British royal family's centuries long exploitation of others, while amassing so much of that nation's and their colonies' wealth. Instead of talking about the reality of royalty and royal families, the TV broadcasters gushed with a lot of read-and-repeat, mindless gossip.
Stay tuned. We have some interesting, real news, stories coming your way this fall.
In the meantime have a nice week.
Things To Do This Weekend in NYC & Boros
The Feast of San Gennaro, Steuben Day Parade, African American Day Parade & Mexican Day Parade in Manhattan; the Feast of St Markella, Queens United International Music Fest & Jamaica Harvest Fest in Queens; the Holy Cross Greek Cultural Fest, Flatbush Frolic & a Couple of Local Plays in Brooklyn; Bronx is Rising at BMHC, Stage Garden Rumba & Boogie on the Blvd in the Bronx; and the 1776 Peace Celebration, the Westerleigh Folk Festival, the Fig / Ficus Fest and a couple of Local Plays on Staten Island ... also Farmers Markets & Street Fairs
NYC Weather. The temperature highs will be around 80 on Friday and Saturday, climbing into the high 80's on Sunday. The temperature lows will be in the 60's climbing from the low 60's on Friday to the high 60's on Sunday. Winds will range from 4 - 9 mph all weekend. The humidity will climb from 30% - 60% on Friday, to 60% to 70% on Saturday, falling back to 50% to 60% on Sunday. There isn't any rain in the forecast for this weekend.
Things To Do in Manhattan NYC
Little Italy _ Thursday - Sunday, September 15 - 25, 2022 times vary - The San Gennaro Festival. This is an 11 day Italian festival that runs through Sunday, September 25th. There's a canoli eating contest today 9/16 beginning at 1 pm and tomorrow 9/17 there's a procession through Little Italy that starts at 2 pm. See their website for details of all events - https://sangennaronyc.org/
UES _ Saturday, September 17, 2022 - Steuben Day Parade & Oktoberfest. The parade begins at 12 noon from 5th Avenue at 68th Street and marches up to 86th Street. Following the parade there's an Oktoberfest at the Rumsey Playfield in Central Park that runs until 7 pm. Enter Central Park at 72nd St & 5th Avenue. Admission $50, but tickets can sell out by early Sept. https://www.facebook.com/steubenparadeny/
Harlem _ Sunday, September 18, 2022 beginning at 1 pm - African American Day Parade [preparade events 11 am - 1 pm] - The parade begins on Adam Clayton Powell Blvd at 111th Street marching north to 137th Street. Street fairs in Harlem NYC. For details see - https://africanamericandayparade.org/.
UES _ Sunday, September 18, 2022 beginning at 12 noon and followed by a festival in Madison Square Park until about 6 pm - Mexican Day Parade & Festival after parade. The parade begins along Madison at 38th, marching south to 26th Street at Madison Square Park where there's an after parade celebration / social. FB - https://www.facebook.com/Mexican-Day-Parade-Comite-Civico-Mexicano-de-NY-115773021139217
Things To Do in Queens NYC
Thursday through Sunday, September 15 - 18, 2022 from 6 - 10 pm Thursday & Friday, 5 - 11 pm on Saturday and 1 - 10 pm on Sunday - Hellenic Orthodox Traditionalist Church of America [St Markella] celebrates patron feast day with traditional Greek food and unique arts and crafts. Along 22-68 26th Street between 22nd & 23rd Avenues in Astoria.
Saturday, September 17, 2022 - Jamaica Harvest Festival - From 10 am to 4 pm - Along Sutphin Blvd from Hillside to 88th Avenue and from Jamaica Avenue to 89th. Jamaica St Fairs.
Saturday, September 17 2022 from 3 - 9.30 pm - Queens United International Music Party - At Sunnyside Gardens Park at 48-21 39th Avenue. Music, beer, wine food trucks, crafts. Open to the public with suggested donation $15. St fairs in Sunnyside Queens NYC.
Sunday, September 18, 2022 from 12 noon to 6 pm - Carnaval De La Cultura Latina (Queens Edition). A street fair celebrating Hispanic culture including food, shoping, music and dancing. Just off the #7 subway line at Junction Blvd and Roosevelt Avenue in Corona. https://www.facebook.com/events/mta-junction-blvd-station-7/carnaval-de-la-cultura-latina-queens-edition-2022/4318630531539873/
FYI - Athens Square Park continues to have Greek Tuesday night music, dance & theatrical performances thru September. Athens Park is located at 30th Avenue & 30th Street in Astoria. The photo to your right shows Athens Square Park in the fall in Astoria.
Possibly more Queens coming Friday night.
Things To Do in Brooklyn NYC
Friday, Saturday & Sunday, September 16 - 18, 2022 from 2 - 10 pm, 12 noon - 10 pm & 12 noon - 7 pm respectively. Holy Cross Greek Cultural Festival [please note that these times are from last year and may have changed / no update has been provided prior to this post]. At 8401 Ridge Blvd between 84th and 86th Streets. This is primarily a Greek food and cultural festival. Brooklyn street fairs in the Bay Ridge neighborhood of Brooklyn.
Sunday, September 18, 2022 from 11 am - 6 pm. Flatbush Frolic. Food, music, arts, rides and local shopping. Along Cortelyou Road between Ocean and Coney Island Avenues. Flatbush Ditmas Park. Brooklyn street fairs in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn. https://fdconline.org.
LAST WEEKEND SOLD OUT - Sunday, September 11 - 18, 2022 - Rent. Rent is a musical based on La Boheme, an Italian Opera written in the late 1800's and set in Paris about the life of struggling artists. In the play, Rent, Playwright Billy Aronson wanted to replace the aesthetic of 19th century Paris, with the grit and HIV epidemic of the late 1990's. He also morphs a traditional opera into a rock opera. He died of an unusual health condition [not HIV / AIDs] before the play became a resounding success. At the 14th Street Y at 344 east 14th street in Manhattan. After Work Theater Group is a flexible, multi-space, traveling theater group that both produces and performs in a mix of free / not free productions, and they also do classes. www.afterworktheater.org / Tickets are generally about $25.
Friday, Saturday & Sunday, September 16, 17, 18, 2022 beginning at 8 pm on Friday & Saturday, and at 2 pm on Sunday - The Wizard of Oz. An adaptation by the Narrows Community Theater. The performance take place in the Auditorium of Our Lady of Angels Church 7320 4th Avenue in the Bay Ridge neighborhood of Brooklyn. Tickets $25 / $20 / $15 at www.nctheaterny.com / www.narrowscommunitytheater.com
Things To Do in the Bronx NYC
Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays in September of 2022 from 6pm to 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and 1pm to 9pm on Sundays - Piazza di Belmont - Outdoor dining on Arthur Avenue which will be closed to vehicular traffic from East 188th Street to Crescent Avenue during the above mentioned times.
Saturday, September 17, 2022 from 12.30 - 5 pm. Bronx is Rising Discussion of the film Fort Apache the Bronx - Discussion begins at 12.30 pm and from 3.30 - 5 pm there's a meal. At Bronx Music Hall Plaza at 438 East 163rd Street [at Washington], which will be the new home for Bronx Music Heritage Center in Morrisania just north of Melrose. Rsvps not required. Not a Bronx St Fair, but a community event in the Morrisania neighborhood of the Bronx.
Saturday, September 17, 2022 from 2 to 6 pm - Stage Garden Rumba - At Maria Sola Community Greenspace, at East 134th Street and Lincoln Avenue in the Port Morris neighborhood of the Bronx. They describe the event as: "... Presented in partnership with Pregones / PRTT, Stage Garden Rumba is an open invitation for all New Yorkers to experience the cultural riches, regional community gardens and green spaces, and vibrant Casitas of the South Bronx ... The series will again feature extraordinary Artists - actors, singers, dancers, writers; Activists with the pulse of local, national, and international struggle and social justice; and Community Members ... Hyperlocal and universal, Stage Garden Rumba brings together voices of joy and revolution to fuel our collective imagination and propel us into a self-determined future ... " At the following locations primarily in the South / Central. Free.
Sunday, September 18, 2022 from 2 to 4 pm - Boogie on the Blvd - Along the Grand Concourse from 165th - 166th Streets. Music, arts & crafts and possibly some shopping. It appears to be a scaled back version of prior similar events. Bronx street fairs organized by the Bronx Museum in front of the museum.
Things To Do on Staten Island NYC
Saturday, September 17, 2022 from 12 noon - 4 pm. 1776 Peace Conference Celebration - There's an historical reenactment of the effort made by Benjamin Franklin and John Adams to obtain peace with Britain as the war for indepence was breaking out. At the Conference House in Tottenville on Staten Island. Admission $5.
Saturday, September 17, 2022 from 11 am - 7 pm - 15th Annual Westerleigh Folk Music and Art Festival. At Westerleigh Park off Jewett Avenue at the corner of Neal Dow and Maine Avenues in the Westerleigh neighborhood on Staten Island. This Staten Island festival in Westerleigh Park centers around live music on three stages, and includes 40 arts & crafts vendors, an art expo and smart food truck vendors will likely show. Free.
Sunday, September 18, 2022 from 2 pm - 6 pm. Annual Fig / Ficus Festival - At 200 The Promenade at Lighthouse Point in the St. George neighborhood. The festival includes all things fig / ficus related. It's a quirky food festival centered around the fig, but includes music, arts, crafts and other foods. Staten Island street fairs / festivals in St. George. $5 suggested donation.
Saturday & Sunday, September 17 & 18, 2022 beginning at 2 pm - Staten Island Shakespeare Theater presents Troilus and Cressida. Performances will take place in Battery Weed in Fort Wadsworth on Staten Island. The play is about a mix of love and military brinksmanship about in ancient Troy. Tickets free to the public with reservation at https://sishakespeare.org/
Saturday, September 17, 2022 beginning at 2 pm Teacher! Teacher! or P.S. I love you. In Tappen Park at Canal, Bay and Water Streets. They describe the play as follows, " ... a rip-roaring original musical which tells the story of a struggling teacher in an underserved neighborhood who puts her life on the line for her kids ...". Organized by the Parks Dept & Theater for the New City aka TNC at ww.theaterforthenewcity.net. Free summer theater on Staten Island NYC.
NYC Weather. The temperature highs will be in the high 70's and the temperature lows around 60. It will be sunny the rest of the week, with humidity ranging from 40% - 60%, which is fairly dry. Winds will be 5 - 10 mph, falling as the week wears on. No rain is expected between now and Friday evening, nor through the coming weekend.
So, a lot has happened since we last posted a news update. At right is a photo of one of the outer borough subway stations this summer. As you can see, mask wearing compliance has diminished.
MTA: Ridership Hits Post Pandemic High of 3.5 Million Weekday Riders on the First Day of the Reopening of NYC Public Schools & Governor Hochul Drops the MTA Mask Mandate
On Thursday, September 8th, the first day of the NYC public schools reopening, the MTA transported 3.6 million people. That's the highest ridership number since the pandemic began two and a half years ago in March of 2020.
In our August 9th report [see below] we suggested the MTA drop the mask mandate or enforce it. At the time we noticed that less than half of the passengers on the subway seemed to be adhering to the mask mandate. On September 7th, NYS Governor Hochul rescinded the mask mandate on the MTA, making masking optional, but still recommended that we continue masking on the MTA as we enter the colder months, when folks go indoors, where the probability of infection by airborne viruses like CoVid and the flu increases. The guidance is particularly relevant to those who are older or have underlying conditions, but it's also not unwise for everyone else too.
Shootings Down in NYC in August - In August 2022 There were 115 Shootings vs 165 in August 2021
This Follows the Passage of Federal Gun Restrictions by Congress in June, Biden's April Executive Order in Requiring Ghost Gun Sales be Handled in the Same Manner as Gun Sales & Mayor Adams & the NYPD's Effort to Remove Illegal Guns from NYC Streets
On June 25th, President Biden signed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. This is legislation that passed both the Senate and Congress earlier in the month. A number of moderate Republicans crossed the aisle in both the House and Senate to vote with the Democrats, on reigning in the gun violence free-for-all that we've been witnessing the past couple of years.
The federal gun legislation was the first of its kind to pass both houses and be signed into law in about 30 years. Among other things it enhances background checks for younger gun owners [under 21], and provides law enforcement with additional authority and responsibility to thwart potential shooters by empowering them to curtail a gun owner's rights if there's reason to believe that person poses a risk to the general welfare of the community. Added funding was also provided to incent law enforcement to pay more attention to problematic gun owners.
The Biden Ghost Gun sale regulations went into effect on August 24, 2022, following a failed court challenge to block the President's April 2022 Executive Order requiring ghost gun sales to be treated the same as other firearm sales.
In addition to the actions taken at the federal level, Mayor Adams has been working with the NYPD to reduce shootings through changes in NYC law enforcement to take illegal guns off the street. Year to date [as of end of August 2022], the NYPD had removed 4,880 illegal guns from the streets of which 405 of them were removed in August.
Other NYC crime statistics rose 31%. And NYS Governor Hochul passed a number gun regulations in response to the Supreme Court ruling overturning a century old NYS gun law.
We'll have a few more items to add, including on NYC public schools, on Wednesday 9.14.22. In the meantime, I hope you're having a nice week.
Things To Do This Weekend in NYC & Boros
Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibit & Labor Day Parade in Manhattan, U.S. Open ends this Weekend in Queens, City Island Art Fair & Ferragosto Celebration in the Bronx, Afro Punk Fest & Fort Greene Jazz Fest in Brooklyn & Pig Island Festival on Staten Island, 911 Anniversary Weekend in NYC ... also Free Outdoor Concerts, Movies & Theater, Farmers Markets, Street Fairs
NYC Weather. The temperature highs will be in the low to mid 80's and the temperature lows will be in the high 60's. The humidity will be 50% - 70% on Friday, dropping to 50% - 60% on Saturday, and rising again to 60% - 70% on Sunday. Winds will be about 5 mph [gentle breeze] all weekend. Mostly no rain expected, but there's a 75% of about a quarter inch of rain falling late on Sunday. The rain will continue and drop a half inch on Monday.
The photos at right show the World Trade Center / 911 Memorial in downtown Manhattan. It's been 21 years since two hijacked airplanes hit the World Trade Center buildings, toppling both of them, and killing thousands of innocent people. Many more died in the aftermath due to asbestos inhalation. This year is the 21st anniversary of 911. I've heard of one or two small localized events commemorating the date, but I couldn't find the details online. You can always make your own sojourn visit to the WTC memorial in downtown Manhattan which is shown in these two photos.
Opinion: Queen Elizabeth - Had so Much, Gave So Little, Did Nothing
What is wrong with Murdoch's Fox News and the corporate TV networks?
They fuss over a woman who had everything, did nothing, and gave little.
Queen Elizabeth reportedly shirked her daughter-in-law Diana, seemed to nearly disown her grandson Harry when he decided to marry an outsider and forge a new life for himself.
She did nothing to earn her wealth, lived her life amidst fabulous wealth and luxury, and seemed to do little to nothing to better the world. Given all the power and wealth Queen Elizabeth inherited, 'her majesty' is, in my mind, one of the greatest travesties of all.
So why are the corporate TV networks fawning all over that rich, nasty, old woman? Elitest Oligarch Rupert Murdoch - who is constantly calling other elitests - had Fox News and ABC so obsequiously cover the Queen, that it almost made me barf.
Things To Do in Manhattan NYC
Saturday, September 10th, 2022 beginning at 10 am, the Labor Day Parade in Manhattan. It marches along 5th Avenue from 44th Street to 64th Street.
Saturday & Sunday, September 10 & 11, 2022 from 12 noon to 6 pm - the Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibit. The show runs along University Avenue from 13th Street down to Washington Square in Manhattan.
Things To Do in Queens NYC
The biggest Labor Day event in Queens, is of course, the U.S. Open which began this week and runs through the Labor Day weekend and following week [see photo at right].
Saturday, September 10 2022 from 10 am - 5 pm - Flushing Street Festival. Along 40th Road and Prince Street in Flushing, Queens. Arts, crafts, music, performance, food and shopping with an Asian flavor. Organized by the Flushing BID.
Things To Do in Brooklyn NYC
Saturday, September 10 from 4 - 7 pm there's the Fort Greene Jazz Festival. Free.
Saturday & Sunday, September 10 & 11, 2022 from 12 noon - 12 midnight - Afro Punk Fest. At Commodore Perry Park in Brooklyn - along Navy Street between Flushing and Park Avenues in the Wallabout neighborhood of Brooklyn. Tickets are $110 - $185 at https://afropunk.com/festival/brooklyn/
Things To Do in the Bronx NYC
City Island _ Saturday & Sunday, September 11 & 12, 2021 from 11 am - 7 pm - City Island Arts & Crafts Fair - Along City Island Avenue between Fordham and Carroll Streets. Hawkins Street Park is the epicenter. Street fairs festivals in the City Island neighborhood of the East Bronx.
Belmont / Bronx Little Italy _ Sunday, September 11, 2022 from 12 noon - 6 pm. Ferragosto Festival. Along Arthur Avenue between Crescent and 187th Street, and along East 186th Street between Arthur & Hughes Avenues. It's an Italian harvest celebration & celebrating 100 years of Arthur Avenue in the Belmont section of the Bronx. Bronx St Fairs in the Belmont neighborhood.x
Things To Do on Staten Island NYC
Saturday, September 10, 2022 from 12 noon - 4 pm - Pig Island Festival - "... this pork-laden festival [includes 20 chefs who] compete for the most delicious porcine dishes. There will also be craft beer, hard cider, spirits and other food offerings – all-included with a general admissions ticket ... " In the South Meadow at Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden at 1000 Richmond Terrace in the Randall Manor neighborhood on Staten Island. Staten Island street fair / festival in Randall Manor - Admission $59 & up. See www.snug-harbor.org for details.
On Wednesday, September 7th the Catholic schools in NYC reopen for the new school year.
On Thursday, September 8, 2022 NYC public schools reopen. Many of the CoVid guidelines of the prior public school year have been modified, so copy and paste the following link for an update. https://www.schools.nyc.gov/school-life/health-and-wellness/covid-information/health-and-safety-in-our-schools.
Thinking of Those who Made a Difference
As I contemplated the upcoming school year I thought back to all of the great teachers who made a difference in my life. And so it is to them that I dedicate this column. Generally I'm going to discuss the school teachers as they chronologically entered my life, and discuss the other teachers in my life who taught me things outside of school, in reverse chronological order. Also please note that this is by no means a complete list, but really rather a first attempt at thanking some of the teachers who made a difference in my life, while passing on a few of the golden nuggets I learned from them.
The High School Teachers Who Made a Difference
It started at Abbott Pennings high school in DePere, Wisconsin where I grew up. Father Frigo was our freshman or sophomore history teacher. He was also a coach of the football and basketball teams which won state championships, and as such, was perhaps treated a bit too familiarly, even irreverently, by some of the star athletes in our class. What Father Frigo taught me was that historical narratives change over time, and that, " ... you have to pay attention to whether you're looking at primary sources or secondary sources ... " to truly understand the nature of events.
He taught us that, " ... revisionist history is a secondary source, but also plays an important role in our understanding of the past ...". He noted that pressure to conform to the prevailing cultural norms and narratives of those in power at a given time can distort and obfuscate the truth. But cultural norms and those in power change over time, so that oftentimes, at least in a free speech democracy, the passing of time permits a more honest appraisal of past events. We can see this playing out currently, as the Civil War 'heroes' of the Confederate south are more appropriately treated in historical terms as traitors to the republic, and as champions of a harsh, cruel system of enslavement of a large portion of the American population at the time. Likewise, in dictatorships, narcissitic despots often use and distort history to provide support for their violent aggression. We saw this scenario play out in Nazi Germany in the 1930's and 1940's, and we're witnessing it today in Putin's Russia.
My junior year I came up against a tough nun, Sister Janet, who for some god forsaken reason, took it upon herself to make sure that I understood algebra. I fought her tooth and nail throughout the year, but over time she broke me down and taught me the beauty of the logic inherent in algebraic equations, for which there is no wiggle room between getting it right and getting it wrong.
And lastly, at Abbott Pennings high school, I was taught an even larger lesson by Father Meehan, in religion class. I questioned some of the basic beliefs of Catholicism in class. He patiently answered my questions, and in the end told me something that I will always remember, when he said, "don't stop questioning ... question everything". Little did I know that that was both a blessing and a curse, as I have continued to question everything ever since.
The College Professors who Made a Difference
I first attended college at St. Norbert College, also in DePere, Wisconsin. In what was my first junior year, I ended up in a history class with Doctor Jonathan Webster. At first I found it unfortunate that I was one of only two students in the class, so this meant I actually had to do all of the homework every week, because while Professor Webster lectured us, he also engaged me and the other student in conversations about what we read in each and every assignment. The class was about Tudor Stuart England, and perhaps for the first time, I walked away with a true appreciation for the study of history at a very in-depth level. We had to read about two dozen books during the course of the semester, and during those three person classes, Professor Webster imparted his knowledge of the period, and helped us more fully understand what we were reading.
Here the lesson was that learning things helps you, and oftentimes when you least expect it. My in-depth understanding of history from that class, came up in an interview when I applied to transfer to the University of Chicago, which was then ranked the #3 college in the nation. In a robust, spirited and terribly intellectual conversation with the interviewer, Michael Walker, I was able to handle my own and was subsequently accepted into the University.
The University of Chicago has a well-deserved reputation as a rigorous academic institution. Two professors from there, left indelible impressions upon me. The first was William H. McNeil, also a history teacher, who over the course of three trimesters - a full academic year - took us, his students, through the history of the world. His classes were on Tuesdays and Thursdays. On Tuesdays it was primarily a lecture where he laid out what was happening in various regions of the world during specific periods of time. On Thursdays, he presented slide shows where he showed us photos of art, artifacts, architecture and other cultural and historical items from that time. He would use a light emitting pointer to draw our attention to various details of each artifact that supported his narratives about what was going on during that time. It was through this class that I developed a broader appreciation for the importance of art, culture and architecture; and the important role they play in our understanding of not only our past, but of ourselves.
This was in addition to learning about the history of the world.
But perhaps the most important part of McNeill's teaching happened after class, when I visited him in his office and peppered him with questions, troubled that what he was presenting in class appeared to differ from my understanding of the world, which up until that time, had some religion mixed into my understanding of the world and how it worked. Professor McNeill was a very patient, avuncular man with a good sense of humor, and so while we discussed many things, ultimately he let me make up my own mind about what I wanted to believe, but he also didn't give any ground when it came to the facts. He was an exceptional teacher, and I am sorry that I was never able to properly thank him, nor for that matter, any of the other teachers mentioned herein.
Professor Sam Jaffe, also of the University of Chicago, taught the Humanities. In this class, Jaffe seemed enthralled by James Joyce, an Irish author, whose use of allegory seemed to enthrall Professor Jaffe. Professor Jaffe had us write a short paper every week or two. Somewhere in the early part of the trimester, one of my papers came back covered with red ink. Professor Jaffe told me he wanted me to re-write it, but also told me I didn't have to complete the next writing assignment given to the rest of the class. So, I re-wrote the paper, taking into consideration Professor Jaffe's comments.
My second rendition also came back covered with red markings, so I asked to meet with the professor to better understand what I had done wrong. He made me aware of how I used my words, phrases, (dis)organized my thoughts and paragraphs, and went off on side tangents [like my father] and sometimes repeated myself. He wanted me to eliminate the deviations from the main argument and to stay focused on the primary subject in one continuous flow. I tried to comprehend his guidance as best I could, and made use of his comments in my third try at the same paper which he found to be much improved. But there were still a number of markings on it, so we met and went through it again. On my fourth try, the paper came back fairly clean. And by then I was on my way to understanding how to write a well-organized, well thought out, articulate paper; which if I recall correctly, was about James Joyce's book, The Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man.
I never properly thanked any of them, which shows us two things - one is how important a profession teaching is, and two how thankless a profession it is. My sister is also a teacher who consoled me, telling me that teachers derive satisfaction by seeing their students learn. She said that seeing their students grow through learning, is how they know they've made a difference, regardless of whether the students ever actually circle back around to thank them.
Our Lives are Filled with Great Teachers
But teaching isn't just done at the academic level, so while I'm on the subject I want to share a few other lessons I learned along the way, again recognizing that this is a very incomplete account. As mentioned above, here I'm going to tell the rest of the story in reverse chronological order.
I had a longstanding girlfriend, Karen Cortell, who taught me how to grocery shop by focusing on natural fruits, vegetables, meats and breads, while pointing out the importance of reading the nutrition labels on packages, when we did buy processed / packaged food. And then she taught me how to cook. I cannot tell you how invaluable these lessons have been to my enjoyment of nightly meals, my good health, and enduring financial standing.
I used to have lunch periodically with Bill Peick who was the Director of Facilities at OSI Pharmaceuticals on Long Island. He was a bit of a corporate senior statesman and would periodically tell me, "The world has changed today. Did you notice it?" At first I thought this query was whimsical nonsense, because very little changed from day to day. In fact there were some weeks when life seemed a bit like it was portrayed in the movie 'Groundhog Day' ... meaning terribly uninteresting, and more of the same. But over time I came to realize and appreciate what Bill was saying, which is that the world is constantly changing ... bit by bit and day by day ... and while we may not notice it on a daily basis, the seven billion plus people on the planet, including ourselves, are all doing something that will either benefit or harm humanity over time.
David Sharpe the VP of Marketing at Lever Brothers [a multi-national consumer products company] in NYC, told me that, " ... managing the process of business, is as important as getting business results ...". When he told me this, I had just come off a successful packaging launch where I pushed people hard, so I was feeling pretty good because we accomplished what we set out to do. When he told me that process was as important as results, I resisted the notion at first, as I had grown up near Green Bay, Wisconsin where famed Packer coach Vince Lombardi was often quoted as saying "Winning isn't everything; it's the only thing."
But Sharpe was right, and over time I found what he had told me was true, because one victory is only good for that day / week / month or year. Ultimately you have to keep doing it over and over and over again, and if you don't manage the process well each time you go through it, eventually things will break down and / or people will resist helping - let alone give you their all.
One of my best friends in business school, Michael Murdoch, taught me the importance of friendship. I was at Midway Airport in Chicago - this was near the end of business school - and on my way to an interview with CBS in NYC. I was flying to NYC to pitch the only job that I really wanted, and I had forgotten my plane ticket. On a moments notice, Murdoch dropped everything, took a taxi to the airport and enabled me to get on that plane. It was a heroic deed that I will never forget, because he could easily have talked his way out of making that trip. And as fate would have it, I got the job. Here, it is important to remember that, sometimes, the memory of a heroic deed can last a lifetime.
We can Even Learn from Family Members
My brother Pat would also periodically remind me that, "It's a people world." He would say this because I tended to be more book smart than people smart. I found this pithy advice insightful, as knowing and getting the facts right, oftentimes isn't enough to win the day - as people, with all of their emotional and psychological complexities - are the decision makers. And thus knowing the people is at least as important as knowing the facts, as to crack, hack or make a deal, you have to break the people code in order to achieve your objectives.
And lastly, but not least, there were my parents, who imparted countless important lessons to me throughout my life. Many were conveyed, most assuredly, through their actions as I was growing up. Two of the top verbalized lessons by my parents, were the following.
My mother used to say, "Every generalization is wrong, including this one." This means a lot of things, but the one most appropriate for this day, is that just because someone does something tremendously good or bad, doesn't mean their whole family or whole race or whole gender or whole political party or whole religion deserves the credit or the blame.
And my father would tell me, "Democracy isn't perfect. Democracy takes time. And so far, it's the best system of government we have that works." Papa has been right thus far. Let's hope he continues to be.
So as we enter the new school year, I want all the great teachers out there, to know that while you may not have been, or may not be, properly thanked for all that you do, there are those of us out here [I'm sure I'm not alone in this] who are grateful to you, even if we never made the time to circle back around to properly thank you.
Ultimately in life, we are all both students and teachers. We learn by observing and we teach through what we do or not do, and by what we say or not say. Our presences - good or bad - can make a big difference to others, and oftentimes when we're not even aware of it.
Have a good week.
Things To Do This Labor Day Weekend in NYC & Boros
Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibit, Free Nightly Opera at Lincoln Center, West Indian American Day Parade Festivities all Weekend in Brooklyn, U.S. Open all Weekend in Queens, in the Bronx Salsa at Orchard Beach & Yankees Home Game, Concert & the Fabulous Richmond County Fair on Staten Island ... also Free Outdoor Concerts, Movies & Theater, Farmers Markets, NYC Public Outdoor Swimming Pools, Street Fairs, Public Beaches
NYC Weekend Weather. The temperature highs will be in the low to mid 80's all weekend. The temperature lows will be around 70 all weekend. The humidity will be between 50% - 70% on Friday, rising to 60% - 70% on Saturday and Sunday, and rising again on Monday to between 70% - 80%. Winds will be a very steady 5 - 7 mph all weekend. There's a 50% chance of a third inch of rain beginning Sunday afternoon and 50% chance of two thirds of an inch of rain throughout the day on Monday.
The photo at right was taken at the West Indian American Day Parade in 2019 where we were rained on pretty hard with pretty warm water. It's possible the same may happen Monday in Brooklyn.
Things To Do in Manhattan NYC
One of the biggest events over the Labor Day Weekend in Manhattan include the Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibit which runs from 12 noon to 6 pm on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, as well as the following weekend. The show runs along University Avenue from 13th Street down to Washington Square.
Also, from Friday, August 26th to Monday, September 5th, there are nightly high definition screenings, beginning at 8 pm, of Metropolitan Opera performances shown in the plaza at Lincoln Center at Columbus and 68th Street on the UWS. Copy and paste this link to see what's playing each night - https://www.metopera.org/season/summer-2022/summer-hd-festival/.
And it's worth mentioning that on Friday and Saturday, September 2nd and 3rd, the Metropolitan Museum will host its two final rooftop concerts of the season going from 5.30 - 8.30 pm. Free w/ admission to the Met.
Ironically, the Labor Day Parade in Manhattan is held Saturday, September 10th, after Labor Day in Manhattan. It begins at 10 am on 5th Avenue at 44th Street marching north to 64th Street.
Things To Do in Brooklyn NYC
One of the biggest events of the Labor Day Weekend in Brooklyn is the West Indian American Day Parade and Carnival. While there are events all weekend, the parade begins at 11 am on Monday along the Eastern Parkway departing from Schenectady Avenue and marching down to Grand Army Plaza near the Brooklyn Museum. From 10 am - 6 pm you'll also find food stalls and shopping along the parade route along Eastern Parkway in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn.
Things To Do in Queens NYC
The biggest Labor Day event in Queens, is of course, the U.S. Open which began this week and runs through the Labor Day weekend and following week [see photo at right].
Another of the biggest Labor Day weekend events in Queens are the Rockaway Bazaar concerts, that begin at 5 pm Friday and at 4 pm Saturday, Sunday and Monday at Beach and 97th Street in the Rockaways in Queens.
Things To Do in the Bronx NYC
The Sunday afternoon of Labor Day Weekend, from 1 to 6 pm, is the last Summer Salsa event at Orchard Beach, in Section 5 between the clubhouse and the water. It's casual and free.
One of the biggest event over the Labor Day Weekend in the Bronx is that the Yankees host the Twins beginning at 11 am on Monday, September 5th at Yankee Stadium at River Avenue and 161st Street.
Next weekend, September 10th & 11th, 2022 from 11 am to 7 pm, is the City Island Art Fair. It's held along Main Street, with the epic center at Hawkins Park.
Things To Do on Staten Island NYC
The biggest event of the Labor Day weekend on Staten Island is the Richmond County Fair in Historic Richmond Town which runs from 12 noon - 7 pm daily on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
Sunday, September 4, 2022 from 4 - 6 pm. Music in the Park with the SI Philharmonic - At the Conference House at 7455 Hylan Blvd in Tottenville on Staten Island.
Have a good Labor Day weekend, and the following are links to all sorts of late summer activities in all five boros. Enjoy.
Things To Do on Staten Island Over The Labor Day Weekend
August 29, 2022 / Things To Do NYC / Staten Buzz.
FYI - We update our front page on the Friday before the Labor Day weekend, with an up-to-date weather forecast, as well as additional Labor Day Weekend events and updates. So please come back to visit us over the weekend.
Also, please note that some photos shown on this page, don't belong here. We're making some platform changes which, in some limited cases, has the system pointing to the wrong images. We'll fix these as we identify them and as time permits.
Special Events on Labor Day Weekend on Staten Island NYC
The biggest event of the Labor Day weekend on Staten Island is the Richmond County Fair in Historic Richmond Town which runs from 12 noon - 7 pm daily on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
Labor Day Events on Staten Island
This Labor Day Weekend you can also go bicycling on Staten Island, play soccer & other games in Staten Island parks, go shopping on Staten Island, attend Staten Island parades, watch theater, visit the Staten Island art museums, and eat out at one of the Staten Island restaurants.
And it's all happening right here in our favorite borough - Staten Island. So take your time to sort through the days and locations and start planning your weekend. Click here to obtain information about things to do Labor Day Weekend on Staten Island. This events calendar is updated monthly with dozens of different Staten Island fun cultural events.
Staten Island Public & Private Parks
Staten Island has one of number of public parks of which a few include swimming facilities. Click here for a listing of the Staten Island Parks including maps showing their locations along with a bit of park history. This is coming at a later date.
NYC Golfing on Staten Island
Staten Island has four golf courses and all of them are open this weekend. The Silver Lake Golf Course is located at 915 Victory Blvd in the northeastern section of Staten Island near the Silver Lake neighborhood. It's only short bus ride from the Staten Island Ferry Terminal in St. George. The La Tourette Golf Course is located at 1001 Richmond Hill Road near Historic Richmond Town and Lighthouse Hill neighborhoods in the center of Staten Island. The South Shore Golf Course is located at 200 Hugenot Road in the southwestern part of Staten Island in the Rossville neighborhood. It is home to the Grand Oaks Country Club. And the NYC Junior Golf Club is located at 66 Pitney Road at the southern end of Staten Island in the Woodrow neighborhood. Click here for details about Staten Island golf courses including maps and links to the operators' websites. The links are coming at a later date.
1) Charlie Parker Festival, Shakespeare in the Park & new Play in Washington Square in Manhattan;
2) U.S. Open Trials end Today, PS1 Warm Up Party Today, 3D Movie, Modern Play in Travers Park Sunday, U.S. Open Tournament Begins Monday in Queens;
3) Revolutionary War Reenactment, Brighton Jubilee, Feast of Saint Rosalia ends Sunday, Burlesque at the Beach in Coney Island in Brooklyn;
4) Baad Dance Performance, Stage Garden Rumba, Family Arts & Crafts, Bronx Night Market, Dinosaurs at the Zoo, Piazza di Belmont & Subway Series in the Bronx;
5) Shorts Film Fest & African Festival & Carnegie Hall Concert on Staten Island;
6) also Free Outdoor Concerts, Movies & Theater, Farmers Markets, NYC Public Outdoor Swimming Pools, Street Fairs, Public Beaches
NYC Weekend Weather. The temperature highs will be in the mid 80's and the temperature lows in the low 70's. The humidity will be about 60% Friday, rising to 70% Saturday and peaking at 80% on Sunday, before falling back a bit on Monday. The winds will be about 5 mph all weekend. There's the possibility of a tenth inch of rain Friday.
The photo at right was taken at the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival in Tompkins Square Park in the East Village in a prior year. The festival returns to Washington Heights and the East Village this weekend.
Things To Do This Weekend in Manhattan NYC
Tuesday - Sundays, August 10 - September 11, 2022 beginning at 8 pm [no show on Saturday, September 10] - As You Like It - By William Shakespeare / Adapted by Shaina Taub and Laurie Woolery. This adaptation of the Shakespearean classic romantic comedy addresses love and gender. Free Shakespeare in the park at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park in Manhattan NYC. Free theater but you need to rsvp a ticket online at least one day prior to performance. For details see www.publictheater.org.
Friday, August 26, 2022 from 7 - 9 pm - Charlie Parker Jazz Festival - featuring Jazzmeia Horn and Her Noble Force / Calvin Booker On Tap & Friends in tandem with the JazzMobile. Marcus Garvey Park at 18 Mount Morris Park West in the Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan. No rsvp needed. First come / first serve. Organized by SummerStage - www.cityparksfoundation.org.
Saturday, Aug 27 @ at 2 pm - - Teacher! Teacher! or P.S. I love you. — Washington Square Park. They describe the play as follows, " ... a rip-roaring original musical which tells the story of a struggling teacher in an underserved neighborhood who puts her life on the line for her kids ...". Washington Square Park is located between 4th Street and Waverly and between MacDougal and University Place in the Village. Organized by the Parks Dept & Theater for the New City aka TNC at www.theaterforthenewcity.net. Free.
Sunday, August 28, 2022 from 3 - 7 pm - Charlie Parker Jazz Festival - featuring Archie Shepp and Jason Moran featuring Cecile McLorin Salvant / Melissa Aldana / Bria Skonberg / Pasquale Grasso - perform in Tompkins Square Park located between Avenues A & B and between 7th Street & 10th Street in the East Village. . No rsvp needed. First come / first serve. Organized by SummerStage - www.cityparksfoundation.org.
Things To Do This Weekend in Queens NYC
Friday, August 26, 2022 from 5 - 9 pm - MoMA PS1 Warm Up Party Replacement. They'll have a few DJ's playing tunes in their back courtyard. PS1 MoMa is located at 22-15 Jackson Avenue in Long Island City, LIC Queens.
June, July, August & September 2022 - Every Hour from 11 am - 4 pm Daily - Wings Over Water in 3D. This is a 22 minute long 3D movie about the migratory patterns of birds. The film follows a number of different species as they do their annual migrations through mountains, deserts, cities, and forests along hidden waterways left behind by the melted glaciers. The NY Hall of Science is located at the western end of Flushing Meadows Corona Park at 47-01 111th Street at 47th Avenue in Corona / Flushing Queens NYC. Admission $4 / $5 / www.nysci.org
Sunday, August 28, 2022 beginning at 2 pm - Teacher! Teacher! or P.S. I love you. They describe the play as follows, " ... a rip-roaring original musical which tells the story of a struggling teacher in an underserved neighborhood who puts her life on the line for her kids ...". Free summer theater in Travers Park at 34th Avenue Between 77th and 78th Street in Jackson Heights Queens NYC.
The U.S. Open Tennis Tournament begins Monday.
Things To Do This Weekend in Brooklyn NYC
Thursday - Sunday, August 18 - August 28, 2022 from about 6 - 10 pm and probably starts earlier on the weekends - The 40th Annual Feast of Santa Rosalia - Along 18th Avenue from 68th to 75th Streets in Bensonhurst. Rides, Italian food and shopping and live entertainment. Processions at 3 pm on both Sundays at 18th Avenue and 72nd Street. Organized by FIAO Brooklyn. Brooklyn street fairs in the Bensonhurst neighborhood of BK.
Saturday & Sunday, August 27 & 28, 2022 from 11 am - 3 pm - The Battle of Brooklyn - Revolutionary War Commemoration - 500 West 25th Street at Greenwood Cemetery. There are three trolley tours scheduled on Saturday beginning at 10 am, 1 pm and 3.30 pm which cost $30 / $25. The Sunday events are free with a suggested donation of $5 for the cemetery. In the past the Sunday program includes an interactive program about life on the battlefield at 11 am, a parade at 12.30 pm, and a commemoration ceremony at 1.15 pm - THIS IS LIKELY THE 2022 EVENTS SCHEDULE BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN CONFIRMED. This is an historic festival in the Greenwood Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn. Space is limited so it's recommended that you get your free tickets now [recommended donation $5] at https://www.green-wood.com/calendar/list/?tribe-bar-date=2022-08-26
Sunday, August 28, 2022 from 10 am - 6 pm. 45th Annual Brighton Jubilee. Along Brighton Beach Avenue from Corbin Place to Coney Island Avenue [has bathrooms] turning down toward the beach. There's live entertainment stages at Brighton 11th Street & at 14th Street, as well as food, shopping and kiddie rides. By the Brighton Neighborhood Assn. Brooklyn street fairs / Brooklyn St Festivals in Brighton Beach & Manhattan Beach. For details see - http://brightonbeach.com/jubilee-festival.html
Friday & Saturday nights, July & August, 2022 beginning at 8 pm on Friday and 9 pm on Saturday - Burlesque at the Beach. A new burlesque related show each Friday and Saturday night throughout the summer. Coney Island Side Show and Coney Island Burlesque. At the Coney Island Museum at 1208 Surf Avenue [at Stillwell Avenue] in the Coney Island neighborhood of Brooklyn. It's adjacent to Luna Park, which stands between it and the boardwalk. Admission is about $20.
Daily August 2022 - Coney Island Museum. They describe the museum as follows, " ... For over a century, the Coney Island amusement district has represented the changing face of American popular culture. A source of wonders, thrills, and larger-than-life spectacles for many generations, Coney Island has also been the site of a wide range of historical innovations, including the hot dog, the first escalator ride, and the introduction of the infant incubator as a tool for neonatal care. The Coney Island Museum is the only accredited institution singularly dedicated to preserving, protecting, and interpreting the unique history of the People’s Playground. It houses the world’s premier collection of Coney Island photographs, paintings, ephemera, amusement-related objects, architectural elements, and vintage signs on view to the public. In addition to the permanent collection, the Museum also hosts special exhibitions and lectures on Coney Island’s history and impact. The Museum’s archives are available as a critical resource to researching scholars and its public displays support educators from local schools ... ". Admission $3 / $5. Note - They periodically close for special events so you're advised to check their website before planning a visit - www.coneyisland.com
Things To Do This Weekend in the Bronx NYC
Saturday, August 27, 2022 from 1 to 8 pm - Bronx Night Market in Fordham Plaza just south of the train station. A diversified food fest.
Friday, August 26, 2022 beginnning at 8 pm - STAYCEE PEARL DANCE PROJECT... ALL NIGHT LONG (Working Title). A staged installation celebrating house music and culture. At the Bronx Academy of Arts & Dance located at 2474 Westchester Avenue in the Westchester Square neighborhood of the Bronx.
Saturday, August 27, 2022 from 1 - 4 pm - Family Day - This is described not as a street fair, but arts and crafts workshop, " ... a day of art making, music and celebration as well as the debut of Abigail DeVille's oral history space capsule project, where a sculpture taking the form of a space capsule outfitted with sound recording equipment will be used to collect and share personal stories and alternative narratives of the Bronx ... ". At the Bronx Museum 1040 Grand Concourse at 165th Street in the Bronx NYC.
Saturday, August 27, 2022 from 2 to 6 pm - Stage Garden Rumba - They describe the event as: "... Presented in partnership with Pregones / PRTT, Stage Garden Rumba is an open invitation for all New Yorkers to experience the cultural riches, regional community gardens and green spaces, and vibrant Casitas of the South Bronx ... The series will again feature extraordinary Artists - actors, singers, dancers, writers; Activists with the pulse of local, national, and international struggle and social justice; and Community Members ... Hyperlocal and universal, Stage Garden Rumba brings together voices of joy and revolution to fuel our collective imagination and propel us into a self-determined future ... ". At the Bronx Sunshine Community Garden at 1768 Bryant Avenue at 174th Street near the New Horizon Shopping Mall in the West Farms / Longwood / East Tremont neighborhoods in the Bronx.
Fridays and Saturdays from 6 pm to 10 pm, and Sundays from 3 pm to 9 pm - Piazza di Belmont - Outdoor dining on Arthur Avenue which will be closed to vehicular traffic from East 188th Street to Crescent Avenue during the above mentioned times. Ends Sept 25, 2022.
Daily thru October 30, 2022 - Walk Among Dinosaurs. This isn't a movie per se, but perhaps even better than one. The Bronx Zoo has an exhibit of 52 life-sized dinosaurs, some of which have animatronics in them. The Bronx Zoo is located at 2300 Southern Blvd in the Bronx. You will need to rsvp a timed ticket and check their website for the latest CoVid guidance - https://bronxzoo.com.
Things To Do This Weekend on Staten Island NYC
Saturday, August 27, 2022 from 12 noon - 7 pm there's the African Festival at 450 Front Street, just across from Maker Park in the Stapleton neighborhood of Staten Island. They describe the event as follows, " ... The 2 day event is the celebration of African Culture and showcases African music, fine arts, literature, drama, dance, and fashion ...". While this is primarily a cultural festival, there will also be opportunities to purchase African food, clothing and art. Entrance Free. Organized by www.africanfestnyc.org. & http://www.nigeriancommunity.org/aboutus.html
Saturday, August 27, 2022 from 5 - 6 pm - Jayme Stones Folklife. This group performs an eclectic mix of North American folk music. At the General Store in Historic Richmond Town on Staten Island. Free, but you're encouraged to rsvp at https://www.historicrichmondtown.org. This is a Carnegie Hall Citywide concert - https://www.carnegiehall.org/Events/Citywide.
Saturday & Sunday, August 27 & 28, 2022 from 5 - 10 pm - Staten Island Summer of Shorts Film Festival. At the Old Dutch Church at 54 Port Richmond Avenue in the Port Richmond neighborhood on Staten Island. Opens at 5 pm where you can meet and greet the film folks. Screenings begin at 6 pm. Admission $10 / Tickets on eventbrite / http://www.olddutchchurchnyc.org.
Have a good weekend, and in the meantime here are links to all sorts of summer activities in all five boros, which include further details to many of the events above. Enjoy.
The second NYS primary election is on Tuesday, August 23rd. On the ballot are the U.S. Congressional races and the NYS Senate races, which were not on the ballot on June 28th.
Reason for the Second Primary this Summer & Races to Watch
The reason there were two NYS primaries this year is that the electoral districts drawn up by the Democrats were so gerrymandered, that an upstate court ordered the NYS Legislature to redraw them more fairly. The decision was upheld on Appeal, but due to the timing - the Appeal decision came down in April - there wasn't enough time to redraw the maps in time for the June primary. Hence a second primary today.
The biggest contests to watch coming out of this election is the one pitting two longtime Congresspeople against each other in District 12 - Jerry Nadler of the Upper West Side and Carolyn Maloney of the Upper East Side. And there's a tight race just north of the city in Westchester where Alessandra Biaggi is challenging Sean Patrick Maloney in District 13. Earlier this summer, former Mayor de Blasio dropped out of the congressional race in the newly redrawn 10th District which encompasses part of Manhattan and Brooklyn.
Click on the image above to access the poll finder website, so you can easily find where to vote in your neighborhood. Remember this is the land of the free and the home of the brave, and many of our ancestors died for our right to elect our leaders. A similar struggle for freedom from oppression is going on in Ukraine right now. So in as much as you can, do your homework before voting for those you choose to represent you / us. There's still time to do some research on candidates on the web.
The New York State election is Tuesday August 23rd, and polls are open from 6 am - 9 pm. Click on the graphic above, to find your poll site.
July 4th Weekend Weather. As of this post 6/28/22, the temperature highs will be in the high 80's during the day and around 70. There's a 50% - 60% chance of rain on Saturday [over a half inch] and a quarter inch of rain on Sunday. The humidity will be 50% - 80% Saturday, falling to 60% on Sunday and down to 50% on Monday. Winds will be 5 - 10 mph throughout the weekend.
Macy's July 4th Fireworks along the East River Provides Good Viewing from Manhattan, Brooklyn & Queens while Distantly Viewable from Northern Staten Island & the Southern tip of the Bronx
The Macy's 4th of July fireworks will be shown along the East River again this year.
They were shown along the East River in 2014, for the first time since 2008, and have remained on the East River ever since. Mayor de Blasio had lobbied for the return, which now spans nine years. The Grucci Brothers will be doing the Macy's 4th of July fireworks in NYC, which they've been doing for decades.
NYC Weekend Weather. The temperature highs will be in the high 80's Saturday and the low 80's on Sunday. The temperature lows will be around 70 all weekend. There will be a gentle breeze between 5 - 10 mph all weekend, descending as the time passes. The humidity will rise throughout the weekend, from 50% - 70% on Saturday to 60% to 80% on Sunday. There's a slight chance of rain late Sunday, and about an inch of rain or more starting early Monday.
Things To Do This Weekend in Manhattan NYC
On Thursdays thru Sundays, July 28 - August 21, 2022 from 6.30 - 8.30 pm / Macbeth - A Shakespearean classic. On the north patio of the Soldiers & Sailors Monument which can be accessed at West 89th Street and Riverside Drive on the Upper West Side. Take the steps behind the monument down to the large patio. CoVid Guidelines. Proof of vaccination and the wearing of a mask are still required. Also attendees must be seated before the 6.30 pm opening. Free.
Beginning Wednesday, August 17, 2022 and running through the weekend the BAAND Together Dance Festival will be held in Damrosch Park at Lincoln Center on the Upper West Side. It's billed as, "... an unprecedented celebration of dance, [with] Ballet Hispánico, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, and Dance Theatre of Harlem sharing the spotlight for the 1st time ...".
Saturdays, August 6, 13 & 20, 2022 from 7 am to 1 pm - NYC Summer Streets - There will be street closures to autos and trucks along Lafayette starting at the Brooklyn Bridge, going north to 4th Avenue in the Village, which merges into Park Avenue at Union Square, ending at 72nd Street. People are welcome to bike, stroll, skateboard and whatnot. Motorists will have access to some major cross streets which you can find listed by cutting & pasting this web address into your browser - http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/summerstreets/html/about/neighbors.shtml.
On Sunday, August 21, 2022 beginning at 12 noon, the India Day Parade marches south along Madison Avenue from 38th Street to 27th Street. The parade is followed by a food and street fair in Madison Square Park.
Use the Manhattan free summer theater, concerts and movies links below to get further details on many of the above events as well as to obtain information about upcoming theater, dance & concert performances and movies at various locations in Manhattan including free concerts / performances at Lincoln Center on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, Salsa dancing / instruction in Washington Square Park on Tuesday evenings, free SummerStage concerts weekly, free Naumberg Bandshell concerts on Tuesdays in Central Park, Thursday or Friday morning concerts at Rockefeller Center, Friday evening concerts in Bryant Park, Wednesday afternoon concerts near Grand Central Terminal, Wednesday films shown in the evening at the Cafe at Pier I in Riverside Park, Monday evening films in Bryant Park, Wednesday evening films in Washington Square Park, Thursday or Saturday evening films at the Westfield World Trade Center, Laughter in the Park performances on Wednesdays at Lincoln Center, and the Harlem Meer Performance Festival on Sundays in Central Park.
Things To Do This Weekend in Queens NYC
Check out the summer theater page link below for a full list of summer outdoor theater performances happening this month in Queens.
Use the links below to see details about the concerts, theater and movie events above, as well as for details on the freesummer concerts, theater and movies for the rest of this summer in Queens. For example next Monday free summer movies in Astoria Park, free performances of Shakespeare in Queens parks, a concert and fair in Rufus King Park in Jamaica, a paid movie with workshop at the Queens Botanical Garden on Saturday, free concerts and dance performances in Athens Square Park in Astoria on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, live music and dance in Travers Park in Jackson Heights on Sunday, and a free concert in Gantry State Park in Tuesdays. Also a 3D movie at the NY Hall of Science in Flushing.
From Tuesday through Friday, August 23 - 26, 2022 beginning at 11 am the U.S. Open Qualifing Matches are open to the public for free at the USTA in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Register for a Fan Access Pass at https://www.usopen.org/en_US/about/us_open_fan_week.html
Things To Do This Weekend in Brooklyn NYC
Thursday - Sunday, August 18 - August 28, 2022 from about 6 - 10 pm and probably starts earlier on the weekends - The 40th Annual Feast of Santa Rosalia - Along 18th Avenue from 68th to 75th Streets in Bensonhurst. Rides, Italian food and shopping and live entertainment. Processions at 3 pm on both Sundays at 18th Avenue and 72nd Street. Organized by FIAO Brooklyn. Brooklyn street fairs in the Bensonhurst neighborhood of BK.
Use the links below to see details about the concerts, theater and movie events above, as well as for details on the freesummer concerts this Fridays at Brooklyn Bridge Park, on weekdays in Downtown Brooklyn, also at the Industry City Bandshell. And there are free summer weekday movies in the parks including Transmitter Park, Brooklyn Bridge Park, Fort Greene Park, Prospect Park and on the Coney Island Boardwalk.
Things To Do This Weekend in the Bronx NYC
Thursday, August 11 - Sunday, August 21, 2022 from 6 pm - 10 pm St Helena Summer Fair. Times may vary on the weekend. It's an old fashioned carnival with rides, games, food and beverages. At the Church of St. Helena in the Parking Lot at 1315 Olmsted in Parchester, near Castle Hill in the Bronx. For details see https://www.churchofsthelena.com/.
On Saturday, August 20, 2022 beginning at 4 pm there's a Salsa Fest at the Bronx Music Hall Plaza at 438 East 163rd Street [at Washington]. These events generally last about one to two hours.
Fridays and Saturdays from 6 pm to 10 pm, and Sundays from 3 pm to 9 pm - Piazza di Belmont - Outdoor dining on Arthur Avenue which will be closed to vehicular traffic from East 188th Street to Crescent Avenue during the above mentioned times. Ends Sept 25, 2022.
Daily thru October 30, 2022 - Walk Among Dinosaurs. This isn't a movie per se, but perhaps even better than one. The Bronx Zoo has an exhibit of 52 life-sized dinosaurs, some of which have animatronics in them. The Bronx Zoo is located at 2300 Southern Blvd in the Bronx. You will need to rsvp a timed ticket and check their website for the latest CoVid guidance - https://bronxzoo.com.
Use the links below to see details about the concerts, theater and movie events above, as well as for details on the freesummer concerts, theater and movies for the rest of this summer in the Bronx.
On Monday & Tuesday, August 22 & 23, 2022 the second half of the Yankee / Mets subway series begins at CitiField at 7.05 pm. I found tickets going for $99 to $475 for regular seats. Or instead of paying what seems an outrageous amount of money to a billionaire in order to sweat profusely through a three hour local baseball game, you drop in on your favorite air conditioned sports bar and watch it there, with drinks and food and air conditioning, for less than the price of a ticket. But you're advised to check that the bar is showing the game, as the TV / video rights can be a complicated maze, when it comes to figuring out what services will carry the games.
Things To Do This Weekend on Staten Island NYC
On August 11, 2022 beginning at 7 pm - Sounds of Summer Concert. Hughie Lynch / Joan Caddell & The Midnight Choir. Free summer outdoor concerts at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden, 1000 Richmond Terrace in the Randall Manor neighborhood in the northern section of Staten Island NYC. Details at www.statenislandusa.com
Use the links below to see details about the concerts, theater and movie events above, as well as for details on the freesummer concerts, theater and movies for the rest of this summer on Staten Island.
Have a good weekend, and in the meantime here are links to all sorts of summer activities in all five boros, which include further details to many of the events above. Enjoy.
NYC Weekend Weather. The temperature highs will be in the low 80's and the temperature lows in the mid 60's all weekend. The humidity drops to 40 - 50% all weekend except Sunday when it begins rising again to about 60%. The winds will be 4 - 10 mph all weekend. No rain is in the forecast.
In the photo at right is a hip hop performer who is a part of a troupe that performed outside the entrance at Christies New York [an auction house] last weekend. The performance was part of a citywide dance festival [we only posted a couple of events], and also a tie into Christies' current online auction of early Hip Hop memorabilia which expires on August 18th, 2022.
Things To Do This Weekend in Manhattan NYC
Saturday, August 13, 2022 from 1 - 9 pm - Blues BBQ Festival. Free summer concerts at Pier 76 near Chelsea Piers in Midtown Manhattan NYC. Free admission, with food not included. For details see - https://hudsonriverpark.org/visit/events/event/blues-bbq-festival-2022/
Saturdays, August 6, 13 & 20, 2022 from 7 am to 1 pm - NYC Summer Streets - There will be street closures to autos and trucks along Lafayette starting at the Brooklyn Bridge, going north to 4th Avenue in the Village, which merges into Park Avenue at Union Square, ending at 72nd Street. People are welcome to bike, stroll, skateboard and whatnot. Motorists will have access to some major cross streets which you can find listed by cutting & pasting this web address into your browser - http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/summerstreets/html/about/neighbors.shtml.
On Sunday, August 14, 2022 beginning at 1 pm there's a Dominican Parade that marches up 6th Avenue from 38th Street to 56th Street in Manhattan.
On Thursdays thru Sundays, July 28 - August 21, 2022 from 6.30 - 8.30 pm / Macbeth - A Shakespearean classic. On the north patio of the Soldiers & Sailors Monument which can be accessed at West 89th Street and Riverside Drive on the Upper West Side. Take the steps behind the monument down to the large patio. CoVid Guidelines. Proof of vaccination and the wearing of a mask are still required. Also attendees must be seated before the 6.30 pm opening. Free.
Thursday, August 4 - Sunday, August 14, 2022 - The Little Shakespeare Festival. It's called 'little' because each production contains only four or five actors. 1) August 4 & 6 - As You Will - at 9 pm and 7 pm respectively, 2) August 5, 7, 11, 12 & 14 - Romeo & Juliet - at 7 pm weekdays and 5.30 pm and 4 pm respectively on Sundays, 3) August 6, 10 & 13 - Unspoken Garden - at 2 pm Saturdays & 7 pm weekday, 4) August 9 - Fights of Shakesepeare & As You Will [double feature] - at 7 pm and 5) Brawls & Burlesque, August 13 at 7 pm & 14 at 2 pm. At the Frigid Theater NYC which performs at Under St. Mark's Theater which is located in the basement at 94 St Marks Place [=8th Street] at 1st Avenue in the East Village - www.frigid.nyc / Tickets are $25 / $20.
August 3 - 13, 2022 - Asian American International Film Festival. This year [2022] they're back with live events and in person screenings at the Asia Society & Museum on the Upper East Side. The Asia Society & Museum is located at 725 Park Avenue at East 70th Street on the Upper East Side of Manhattan NYC. Tickets are $16 / $10 - For details see www.aaiff.org.
On Saturday, August 13, 2022 from 4 - 7 pm, Great Jazz on the Great Hill [enter at 106th Street & Central Park West] in Central Park. Organized in a collaboration by the Jazzmobile and the Central Park Conservancy. Free.
Use the Manhattan free summer theater, concerts and movies links below to get further details on many of the above events as well as to obtain information about upcoming theater, dance & concert performances and movies at various locations in Manhattan including free concerts / performances at Lincoln Center on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, Salsa dancing / instruction in Washington Square Park on Tuesday evenings, free SummerStage concerts weekly, free Naumberg Bandshell concerts on Tuesdays in Central Park, Thursday or Friday morning concerts at Rockefeller Center, Friday evening concerts in Bryant Park, Wednesday afternoon concerts near Grand Central Terminal, Wednesday films shown in the evening at the Cafe at Pier I in Riverside Park, Monday evening films in Bryant Park, Wednesday evening films in Washington Square Park, Thursday or Saturday evening films at the Westfield World Trade Center, Laughter in the Park performances on Wednesdays at Lincoln Center, and the Harlem Meer Performance Festival on Sundays in Central Park.
Central Park Film Festival begins Monday, August 15, 2022 on the Landscape between Sheep Meadow and the 72nd Street cross drive. Free.
Beginning Wednesday, August 17, 2022 and running through the weekend the BAAND Together Dance Festival will be held in Damrosch Park at Lincoln Center on the Upper West Side. It's billed as, "... an unprecedented celebration of dance, [with] Ballet Hispánico, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, and Dance Theatre of Harlem sharing the spotlight for the 1st time ...".
Things To Do This Weekend in Queens NYC
Sunday, August 14, 2022 from 2 - 6 pm - India Day Mini Parade & Celebration - At 244-44 87th Avenue [between 87th - 88th Avenues] in Bellerose in Gregorian Hall. A mini indoor parade, dignitaries, entertainment including song and dance, and food and shopping stalls. This is organized by the Bellerose Indian Merchants Association. For details see FB - https://www.facebook.com/indiadayparadequeens/photos/a.851141258371065/2276180899200420/
Friday - Sunday, August 5 - 14, 2022 beginning at various times - Festival of Cinema [formerly the Kew Gardens Film Festival]. They're showing a mix of independent films including documentary, drama, shorts and comedy. At the Regal United Artists Midway at 108-22 Queens Boulevard in Forest Hills. Ticket prices are $10 / $25 / $50. They also offer packages which you can purchase online at www.festivalofcinemanyc.com.
Use the links below to see details about the concerts, theater and movie events above, as well as for details on the freesummer concerts, theater and movies for the rest of this summer in Queens. For example next Monday free summer movies in Astoria Park, free performances of Shakespeare in Queens parks, a concert and fair in Rufus King Park in Jamaica, a paid movie with workshop at the Queens Botanical Garden on Saturday, free concerts and dance performances in Athens Square Park in Astoria on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, live music and dance in Travers Park in Jackson Heights on Sunday, and a free concert in Gantry State Park in Tuesdays. Also a 3D movie at the NY Hall of Science in Flushing.
From Tuesday through Friday, August 23 - 26, 2022 beginning at 11 am the U.S. Open Qualifing Matches are open to the public for free at the USTA in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Register for a Fan Access Pass at https://www.usopen.org/en_US/about/us_open_fan_week.html
Things To Do This Weekend in Brooklyn NYC
August 13, 2022 beginning at 12 noon - the Coney Island Sand Sculpting Contest begins on the Beach at West 12th Street in Coney Island in Brooklyn. It's the 30th year. https://seasideparkconeyisland.com/coney-island/events
Saturday, August 13, 2022 from 3 pm - 8 pm. 2nd Annual Brooklyn Rum Festival. At the Brooklyn Monarch at 23 Meadows Stret in the East Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn. Sample 50 rums from the Caribbean Islands as well as food, entertainment and dancing. Street fairs in BK. Tickets $60 - $80 for 21 + and no tickets sold at door - see eventbrite. For details see - www.irumtheworld.com.
August 11 - 14, 2022 - Hip Hop Film Festival - This Moved to Brooklyn from Harlem - The annual Hip Hop film festival in Harlem. Tickets run from free to $20 and some go up at www.hiphopfilmfestival.org.
Use the links below to see details about the concerts, theater and movie events above, as well as for details on the freesummer concerts this Fridays at Brooklyn Bridge Park, on weekdays in Downtown Brooklyn, also at the Industry City Bandshell. And there are free summer weekday movies in the parks including Transmitter Park, Brooklyn Bridge Park, Fort Greene Park, Prospect Park and on the Coney Island Boardwalk.
Things To Do This Weekend in the Bronx NYC
See Brooklyn above for the Hip Hop Film Festival.
Thursday, August 11 - Sunday, August 21, 2022 from 6 pm - 10 pm St Helena Summer Fair. Times may vary on the weekend. It's an old fashioned carnival with rides, games, food and beverages. At the Church of St. Helena in the Parking Lot at 1315 Olmsted in Parchester, near Castle Hill in the Bronx. For details see https://www.churchofsthelena.com/.
Thursday - Saturday, August 11 - 13, 2022 - Times Vary - Abdul Latif D2D/T Matched: An Extension. A three day dance performance event taking place in various spaces around the BAAD facility. BAAD is the Bronx Academy of Arts & Dance is located at 2474 Westchester Avenue in the Westchester Square neighborhood of the Bronx. I believe it may be a paid event - www.baadbronx.org / as of this post it seems their ticket check out isn't working so just in case here's a telephone number - (718) 918-2110.
Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday, August 11 - 14, 2022 beginning at 6 pm - SummerStage Concert Series. Free.
Thursday, August 11, 2022 beginning at 6 pm - Tony Vega I George Lamond / Uptown Vinyl Supreme. Free.
Friday, August 12, 2022 beginning at 6 pm - Urban Bush Women / Cheri L. Stokes. Free.
Saturday, August 13, 2022 beginning at 6 pm - Shatta Wale / Wiyaala. Free.
Sunday, August 14, 2022 beginning at 4 pm - Kid Capri's Block Party Live feat. Vina Love and The Hoodies. Free.
Saturday, August 13, 2022 beginning at 4 pm - Sabado de Rumba con Gene Golden - Musical performance at the Bronx Music Heritage Center outdoor plaza at 438 East 163rd Street in Morrisania at Washington Avenue. NOTE. Many of the performances are outside at 443 East 162nd which is outside the southern entrance, so you might have to look around. Free. https://www.facebook.com/bxmusic/
Sunday, August 14, 2022 beginning at 4 pm a concert by the Orchestra of St. Lukes at the Bartow Pell Mansion at 895 Shore Road in Pelham Bay Park [across from the golf course].
Fridays and Saturdays from 6 pm to 10 pm, and Sundays from 3 pm to 9 pm - Piazza di Belmont - Outdoor dining on Arthur Avenue which will be closed to vehicular traffic from East 188th Street to Crescent Avenue during the above mentioned times. Ends Sept 25, 2022.
Daily thru October 30, 2022 - Walk Among Dinosaurs. This isn't a movie per se, but perhaps even better than one. The Bronx Zoo has an exhibit of 52 life-sized dinosaurs, some of which have animatronics in them. The Bronx Zoo is located at 2300 Southern Blvd in the Bronx. You will need to rsvp a timed ticket and check their website for the latest CoVid guidance - https://bronxzoo.com.
Use the links below to see details about the concerts, theater and movie events above, as well as for details on the freesummer concerts, theater and movies for the rest of this summer in the Bronx.
On Thursday, August 18, 2022 from 5 - 8 pm there's an opening party for the unveiling of the Sweet Gum Community Garden at 995 Summit Avenue in the Bronx. The event is organized by the Coalition for Immigrant Freedom.
Things To Do This Weekend on Staten Island NYC
On August 11, 2022 beginning at 7 pm - Sounds of Summer Concert. Hughie Lynch / Joan Caddell & The Midnight Choir. Free summer outdoor concerts at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden, 1000 Richmond Terrace in the Randall Manor neighborhood in the northern section of Staten Island NYC. Details at www.statenislandusa.com
Use the links below to see details about the concerts, theater and movie events above, as well as for details on the freesummer concerts, theater and movies for the rest of this summer on Staten Island.
Have a good weekend, and in the meantime here are links to all sorts of summer activities in all five boros, which include further details to many of the events above. Enjoy.
Weather. The temperature highs will be in the mid to high 90's today, falling into the mid 80's for the rest of the week. The temperature lows will be around 70 all week. The humidity will rise from the mid 50's early Tuesday to the mid 70's by Wednesday, falling back to about 60% on Thursday and a comfortable 50% on Friday. There's a 50% chance of a 1/10th inch of rain between 5 - 10 pm Tuesday, and a 50 - 75% chance of about a half inch or more of rain between 11 pm Wednesday and 9 am Thursday. By Friday it's a very nice day, leading into a very nice weekend.
CoVid Containment in NYC - MTA Should Either Enforce the Mask Mandate or Withdraw it
This past weekend I noticed that half or less of the passengers on the subway appear to be following the mask mandate. To the MTA I suggest either enforce the mandate, or withdraw it. You weaken the government's credibility and ability to enforce compliance, when you mandate something and then do not follow through by properly / evenly enforcing it. Every good parent knows that.
The BA.5 variant of CoVid grew rapidly from under 10% at the beginning of June 2022, to above 80% by the end of July. Cases rose briefly during that period, before falling back again. About 79% of all Americans have received at least one dose of the vaccine, while about 68% have received two or more. In NYS 91% of New Yorkers have received at least one dose, while 78% have received two or more doses. Because the population has finally come around to getting vaccinated, the hospitalization rates for CoVid are fairly low, with only a small percentage of hospital beds being utilized for CoVid patients, most of which are occupied by the non-vaxers.
Bear in mind that it's the summertime, which is the off season for the disease, because folks are outdoors.
Monkey Pox Declared a Public Health Emergency - New Cases in NYC Plummet
On Friday, August 5, 2022 President Biden declared Monkey Pox a public health emergency. According to the CDC, monkey pox cases have risen to about 8,934 as of Monday, August 8, 2022. The first case reported to the CDC in this country was on May 17, 2022.
In New York City, monkey pox cases have risen to 1,965 according to the NYC government, so NYC represents between a fifth and a quarter of the total in the U.S. About 90% of the cases have been found in the gay community, but like HIV / AIDs, while it appears to be predominantly transmitted between gay men, anyone can catch it.
Monkey pox has been spreading primarily through sexual contact, but it can also be spread through bodily fluids like saliva, and via clothing or bedding, and in a few cases it was even spread via prolonged, close, face-to-face contact. It becomes manifest as a rash, and can take as long as four weeks to go away. There are treatments to help get through the disease once you have it, but getting vaccinated, particularly if you're a gay man, is your best bet. To date NYC has received 79,000 vaccination doses, and it is estimated that there are about 150,000 New Yorkers in the highly susceptible monkey pox group.
While monkey pox vaccination doses are being manufactured to ramp up to demand, authorities have been devising strategies to mitigate the spread by prioritizing first [of two] doses and evaluating the possibility of reducing the size of each dose, in order to increase the number of doses available.
The good news, is that because of the rapid spread of health information surrounding the disease, how and where it's spread, and the fairly rapid response in distributing and administering vaccines, the new monkey pox case count in NYC has already plummeted, as you can see from the chart I found on the NYC government website.
There are monkey pox vaccination clinics in all five boroughs which you can find, along with more information about the virus, at
Tourism Bounces Back in NYC, but Foreign Visits Lagging Domestics, Likely Because of the Strong Dollar & not Crime as Many News Outlets Suggest
Over the course of the past few months, I've noticed a healthy return of the tourism trade based on what I've been seeing and hearing as I walk the streets and take public transit.
In 2019, prior to the pandemic, NYC welcomed about 65 million visitors, of which about 13 million were from foreign countries. The foreigners generally stay longer and spend more than domestic tourists. This year, 2022, it is estimated that NYC will welcome about 56 million tourists, of which about 8 million are expected to come from other nations. This means about 95% of the domestic tourism trade will return, while only about 60% of the foreign tourist trade will return this year.
While many news outlets appear to hype violent crime as the culprit in discouraging the foreign tourist trade, I think the fact that the Euro has fallen about 20% versus the dollar is more likely the cause. Because the Euro currency fall, visiting New York is more expensive by about 20%, to Euro currency visitors, who comprise a large share of our foreign tourism.
The tourism trade contributes between 5% [wages] to 8% [employment] of NYC revenue.
The pandemic changed most of our lives in some fashion, while turning many people's lives completely upside down for a while. Many service businesses, like restaurants and hotels, saw a huge falloff in business. The airline industry and other transit businesses took a huge hit. The live entertainment industry, such as we see on Broadway, faded to black - meaning it nearly completely shut down.
So while the service businesses were getting hammered, the goods businesses were thriving. Consumers shifted their spending from doing things related to the service businesses identified above, to buying more goods, particularly those that would make staying at home more comfortable or pleasureable. This put added pressure on the demand for goods, while manufacturers were having trouble keeping their workforces healthy enough to continue producing and shipping their goods. Bottlenecks cropped up.
Conversely, as the pandemic has unwound, service businesses are bouncing back. We saw this in the huge employment increase in the July jobs report, where the economy added over a half million new jobs. A healthy normal monthly number of new jobs is somewhere in the neighborhood of 250,000 to 300,000 new jobs. So, now we're working through a backlog of pent up service demand.
What's my point in all of this? It's that we all need to stay calm and remain patient, as the boat / community collectively rights itself, returning back into some sort on new normalized equilibrium.
I believe this is also true, in part, of violent crime - although one can't help but talk about the 50 million plus new guns sold in America during the pandemic, as also contributing to the violent crime problem. During the pandemic violent crime has risen - not just in NYC - but all over America. According to a June 25, 2022 report by NPR, there have been at least 281 mass shootings in America this year to date; and 27 shootings have taken place in schools, so far this year.
The Supreme Court didn't help things any, by striking down a prior, century-old court ruling enabling NYS to screen folks who want to walk the streets armed. Governor Hochul responded fairly quickly, by proposing legislation that will make carrrying a weapon inside government buildings, schools and so forth illegal.
The bit of good news is that on June 25, 2022 President Biden signed a gun safety bill into law. It was the first in 30 years. The bill included: 1) federal incentives for states to pass red flag laws, which would enable petitioners to ask the government to take firearms away from folks deemed dangerous, 2) it expanded background checks of people aged 18 - 21 who wish to purchase weapons, and 3) prevents people convicted of domestic abuse from owning a gun, whether that abuse was directed at a spouse [in prior law] or a dating partner [new law change / addition]. While many, including the President, didn't feel the new legislation went far enough, it does move the gun violence needle a little bit in the right direction.
Have a good week.
Things To Do in NYC This Weekend
1) Giglio Festival in East Harlem, SHENYC & Mostly Mozart Festivals Ending, Macbeth, Little Shakespeare Fest & Asian American Film Fest continue in Manhattan
2) Ecuadorian Parade, Festival of Cinema and Jamaica JAMS in Queens,
3) Shakespeare in Fort Greene Park, Hindu Lamp Festival at BK Bridge Park, Last Weekend of the BRIC Concerts in Prospect Park in Brooklyn;
4) A Contemporary Play Performance, Old Timers Music Festival in Crotona Park, Kids Theater at Lehman, Dance Party, Dinosaurs & Piazza di Belmont in the Bronx;
5) Mame Continues at the Victory Theater, Dance Festival at Snug Harbor on Staten Island;
6) and Free Outdoor Concerts, Movies & Theater, Farmers Markets, NYC Public Outdoor Swimming Pools, Street Fairs, Public Beaches
NYC Weekend Weather. The temperature highs will be around 90 and the temperature lows around 80. The humidity will be around 70% all weekend and winds will be 5 - 10 mph all weekend. There's a 40% - 50% chance of one to two tenths of an inch of rain each day, with the best chances on Friday evening between 7 and 8 pm, on Saturday between 12 noon and 5 pm, and on Sunday between 12 noon and 2 pm.
The photo at right was taken at the Ecuadorian Parade in Queens in a prior year.
Things To Do This Weekend in Manhattan NYC
Saturday July 30 - August 7, 2022 - The Giglio Festival in East Harlem began last week between 448 - 456 East 116th Street between 1st and Pleasant Avenues with a church service and a few festivities, including the dressing of the Giglio on Saturday, July 30, 2022 beginning at 8 am, followed by the Annual East Harlem Giglio BBQ. The celebration then resumes in earnest Thursday evening, August 4th between 114th and 116th Streets along Pleasant Avenue, with food, music and dance, which continues on Friday, August 5th, until about 8 pm. On Saturday, August 6, there's the Children's Giglio at 7 pm at Pleasant Avenue and East 115th Street, which is preceded by food and performance events beginning at 12 noon, including a singing performance by Biagio. On Sunday the fun continues between 12 noon and 7 pm, with the Giglio lifts beginning sometime after 1.30 pm until about 7 - 8 pm.
August 3 - 13, 2022 - Asian American International Film Festival. This year [2022] they're back with live events and in person screenings at the Asia Society & Museum on the Upper East Side. The Asia Society & Museum is located at 725 Park Avenue at East 70th Street on the Upper East Side of Manhattan NYC. Tickets are $16 / $10 - For details see www.aaiff.org.
Saturday, August 6, 2022 from 11 am - 5 pm - Rockefeller Block Party / Christies Auction House / Hip Hop. The focal point is the skating rink at Rockefeller Plaza, but we're informed this event consists of 100 blocks in all five boroughs. It's free, but an rsvp is required - https://www.rockefellercenter.com/events/christie-s-block-party-and-festival-of-new-york-dance-party/
Thru Sunday, August 7, 2022 at various times - SHENYC Festival - at Connelly Theater at 220 East 4th Street in the East Village of Manhattan NYC. This festival showcases women / gender marginalized writers, composers and directors. Paid summer theater in the East Village in Manhattan NYC. Tickets at www.shenycarts.org / $35 per show or you can obtain a discount of $10 or $30 by buying 2 or 3 shows for $60 or $75.
Thru Saturday, August 6th, 2022 - Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra - This part of the program is pay-what-you-will and indoors. This is NOT the Mostly Mozart Festival as it was in prior years, but rather a group bearing the name with some connections. These are paid summer outdoor concerts at Lincoln Center on the Upper West Side of Manhattan NYC.
On Thursdays thru Sundays, July 28 - August 21, 2022 from 6.30 - 8.30 pm / Macbeth - A Shakespearean classic. On the north patio of the Soldiers & Sailors Monument which can be accessed at West 89th Street and Riverside Drive on the Upper West Side. Take the steps behind the monument down to the large patio. CoVid Guidelines. Proof of vaccination and the wearing of a mask are still required. Also attendees must be seated before the 6.30 pm opening. Free.
Thursday, August 4 - Sunday, August 14, 2022 - The Little Shakespeare Festival. It's called 'little' because each production contains only four or five actors. 1) August 4 & 6 - As You Will - at 9 pm and 7 pm respectively, 2) August 5, 7, 11, 12 & 14 - Romeo & Juliet - at 7 pm weekdays and 5.30 pm and 4 pm respectively on Sundays, 3) August 6, 10 & 13 - Unspoken Garden - at 2 pm Saturdays & 7 pm weekday, 4) August 9 - Fights of Shakesepeare & As You Will [double feature] - at 7 pm and 5) Brawls & Burlesque, August 13 at 7 pm & 14 at 2 pm. At the Frigid Theater NYC which performs at Under St. Mark's Theater which is located in the basement at 94 St Marks Place [=8th Street] at 1st Avenue in the East Village - www.frigid.nyc / Tickets are $25 / $20.
Sunday, August 7, 2022 - Doors Open 6 pm / Short Film 6.30 pm / Movie 7 pm - Inside Out + You Are Not Alone short film. Free movies / foreign films at the South Street Seaport in the Financial District / FiDi / Downtown neighborhood of Manhattan NYC. Rooftop at Pier 17 at 89 South Street in the Downtown / FiDi neighborhood of Manhattan NYC.
Sundays, August 7, 2022 - beginning at 6 pm. Jazz Underground. Performances by various jazz musicians and genres around the city and beyond. Free. At Lincoln Center.
Use the Manhattan free summer theater, concerts and movies links below to get further details on many of the above events as well as to obtain information about upcoming theater, dance & concert performances and movies at various locations in Manhattan including free concerts / performances at Lincoln Center on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, Salsa dancing / instruction in Washington Square Park on Tuesday evenings, free SummerStage concerts weekly, free Naumberg Bandshell concerts on Tuesdays in Central Park, Thursday or Friday morning concerts at Rockefeller Center, Friday evening concerts in Bryant Park, Wednesday afternoon concerts near Grand Central Terminal, Wednesday films shown in the evening at the Cafe at Pier I in Riverside Park, Monday evening films in Bryant Park, Wednesday evening films in Washington Square Park, Thursday or Saturday evening films at the Westfield World Trade Center, Laughter in the Park performances on Wednesdays at Lincoln Center, and the Harlem Meer Performance Festival on Sundays in Central Park.
Things To Do This Weekend in Queens NYC
On Sunday, August 7, 2022 assembling at 11 am and beginning at 12 noon - The Ecuadorian Parade kicks off at 68th Street and Northern Blvd in Jackson Heights and marches down to 87th Street. The parade / celebration is expected to last until about 4 pm.
Friday - Sunday, August 5 - 14, 2022 beginning at various times - Festival of Cinema [formerly the Kew Gardens Film Festival]. They're showing a mix of independent films including documentary, drama, shorts and comedy. At the Regal United Artists Midway at 108-22 Queens Boulevard in Forest Hills. Ticket prices are $10 / $25 / $50. They also offer packages which you can purchase online at www.festivalofcinemanyc.com
Friday & Saturday, August 5 & 6, 2022 - Jamaica JAMS Music Festival runs from 6 - 10 pm Friday, and the Jamaica JAMS music festival and street fair runs from 11 am to 7 pm Saturday - Friday evening from 6 pm - 10 pm in the northwest corner of Rufus King Park for the music festival. On Saturday from 11 am - 7 pm along Jamaica Avenue from Parsons Blvd to 170th Street. Music, food and street shopping. The biggest street fair in Queens. JAMS stands for Jamaica Arts & Music Summer. Jamaica JAMS Rufus King Park is at 153rd Street and Jamaica Avenue in the Jamaica neighborhood of Queens NYC. For details see - https://www.jamaicajams.nyc.
Saturday, August 6, 2022 from 6 - 7.15 pm - The Queensboro Dance Festival runs on a Saturday or Sunday or both nearly every weekend in June, July, August and September at a myriad of venues around the borough of Queens. It generally includes / showcases performances by local dancers and choreographers. And it's free. This weekend its at Travers Park, 34th Avenue Between 77th and 78th Street at Travers Park in Jackson Heights Queens. Organized by the Parks Dept & the Queensboro Dance Festival - https://www.queensborodancefestival.com.
Saturday, August 6, 2022 beginning at 7.30 pm / Hip to Hip Theater Free - Pericles - This Shakespearean play has a dramatic mix of tragedy, romance and comedy, all rolled up in one. It opens with Pericles life in danger as he is asked to decipher a riddle, the answer to which will result in his death. So he asks for time to think about it and then flees. In the course of his flight he wins a contest and the prized princess, impregnates her, loses her in childbirth, and goes on to other adventures before reuniting with his daughter and wife [who was found alive swept to shore]. Gantry Plaza State Park is located at 4-09 47th Road along the East River. Free.
Use the links below to see details about the concerts, theater and movie events above, as well as for details on the freesummer concerts, theater and movies for the rest of this summer in Queens. For example next Monday free summer movies in Astoria Park, free performances of Shakespeare in Queens parks, a concert and fair in Rufus King Park in Jamaica, a paid movie with workshop at the Queens Botanical Garden on Saturday, free concerts and dance performances in Athens Square Park in Astoria on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, live music and dance in Travers Park in Jackson Heights on Sunday, and a free concert in Gantry State Park in Tuesdays. Also a 3D movie at the NY Hall of Science in Flushing.
Things To Do This Weekend in Brooklyn NYC
Friday, August 5, 2022 beginning at 7.30 pm / Pericles - On the Monument steps near the Myrtle Avenue entrance in Fort Greene Park in Brooklyn NYC. This Shakespearean play has a dramatic mix of tragedy, romance and comedy, all rolled up in one. It opens with Pericles life in danger as he is asked to decipher a riddle, the answer to which will result in his death. So he asks for time to think about it and then flees. In the course of his flight he wins a contest and the prized princess, impregnates her, loses her in childbirth, and goes on to other adventures before reuniting with his daughter and wife [who was found alive swept to shore]. Shakespeare's Pericles performed by Hip to Hip Theater. Free summer outdoor theater in Fort Greene Park in the Fort Green neighborhood of Brooklyn NYC. Free. Contact. www.hiptohip.org
Ending Saturday, August 6, 2022 - BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn Festival. BRIC stands for Brooklyn Information and Culture and was founded in 1979 to revitalize Brooklyn through arts and culture. The festival runs from June 24 - August 6, 2022. Free. At the Lena Horne Bandshell in Prospect Park at 62 West Drive in Brooklyn. For details see www.bricartsmedia.org. This is the last weekend and the following performances are scheduled.
Thursday, August 4, 2022 from 7 - 9 pm - BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival: Khruangbin.
Friday, August 5, 2022 from 7 - 9 pm - BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival: Erykah Badu.
Saturday, August 6, 2022 from 6.30 - 9.30 pm - BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival Closing Night: Yemi Alade and Amindi.
Use the links below to see details about the concerts, theater and movie events above, as well as for details on the freesummer concerts this Fridays at Brooklyn Bridge Park, on weekdays in Downtown Brooklyn, also at the Industry City Bandshell. And there are free summer weekday movies in the parks including Transmitter Park, Brooklyn Bridge Park, Fort Greene Park, Prospect Park and on the Coney Island Boardwalk.
August 11 - 14, 2022 - Hip Hop Film Festival - This Moved to Brooklyn from Harlem - The annual Hip Hop film festival in Harlem. Tickets run from free to $20 and some go up at www.hiphopfilmfestival.org.
Things To Do This Weekend in Bronx NYC
Sunday, Aug 7, 2022 @ 2 pm - Teacher! Teacher! or P.S. I love you - Pontiac Playground at St. Mary’s Park, 350 St. Ann’s Ave. They describe the play as follows, " ... a rip-roaring original musical which tells the story of a struggling teacher in an underserved neighborhood who puts her life on the line for her kids ...". Organized by the Parks Dept & Theater for the New City aka TNC at www.theaterforthenewcity.net. Pontiac Playground St. Mary's Park at 450 St. Ann's Avenue in Mott Haven. Free.
Thursday, Friday & Saturday, August 4, 5, 6, 2022 - SummerWorx 2022 / The Three Little Pigs, The Big Bad Wolf & Kung Fu. They describe this event as follows, "... The Children’s Theatre Company at Lehman presents, the Three Little Pigs in “The Big Bad Wolf and the Kung Fu Caper”. Kids nearly free theater / outdoor summer plays at Lehman College in the Bedford Park neighborhood of the Bronx. The Lehman College Performing Arts Center is located 250 Bedford Park Blvd West in the Bedford Park neighborhood of the Bronx. The kids theater event is being held in the Lovinger Theater. www.lehmanstages.org / The Three Little Pigs event costs $1 and requires an rsvp.
Saturday, August 6, 2022 from 3 - 4.30 pm - Citywide Dance Party. Dance to the tunes of D.J. Stormin' Norman, as part of the Festival of New York that day. Free, but rsvp at www.wavehill.org / Note - Severe weather cancels. Registration required, online or by calling 718.549.3200 x251. Questions? Please email them at information@wavehill.org or call the extension above. Wave Hill is located along Bingham Road between 249th and 252nd Streets in the Riverdale neighborhood of the Bronx. The Riverdale Parking lot is located west / behind Wave Hill, adjacent to the Hudson River if you can't find a spot at the parking lot on site, as generally the onsite parking lot closes late afternoon.
Fridays and Saturdays from 6 pm to 10 pm, and Sundays from 3 pm to 9 pm - Piazza di Belmont - Outdoor dining on Arthur Avenue which will be closed to vehicular traffic from East 188th Street to Crescent Avenue during the above mentioned times. Ends Sept 25, 2022.
Daily thru October 30, 2022 - Walk Among Dinosaurs. This isn't a movie per se, but perhaps even better than one. The Bronx Zoo has an exhibit of 52 life-sized dinosaurs, some of which have animatronics in them. The Bronx Zoo is located at 2300 Southern Blvd in the Bronx. You will need to rsvp a timed ticket and check their website for the latest CoVid guidance - https://bronxzoo.com.
Sunday, August 7, 2022 from 11 am - 5.30 pm - Old Timers Music Festival - This festival has apparently been running for over 50 years. They describe the event as follows, "... For decades the first Sunday of August people gather in Crotona Park in The Bronx to cookout, spend time with family and to catch up with old friends. This annual tradition brings thousands of people out to have a good time listening to music, dancing, eating, playing cards ... this year Forest Playground Neighborhood Association (F.P.N.A.) and CTS Productions is teaming up to bring some of the hottest local entertainers ... at the Crotona Park Amphitheatre located at 559 Claremont Pkwy, Bronx, NY 10457..." Crotona Park is located just south of the Cross Bronx Expressway [east 174th Street], east of Fulton Avenue, north of Crotona Park South and west of Crotona Park East in the Crotona Park neighborood in the center of the Bronx. The concert(s) take place at the Crotona Park Amphitheater / Bandshell which is accessible via 172nd Street from the west and Charlotte Street in the east.
Thursday, August 11, 2022 beginning at 6 pm - SummerStage Concert Series begins with Tony Vega I George Lamond / Uptown Vinyl Supreme and runs into the weekend at the Crotona Park Amphitheatre [see location info above]. Free.
Things To Do This Weekend on Staten Island NYC
The following free Summer Concerts will be performed at Corporal Thompson Park in Port Richmond SI. Off Richmond Terrace at Broadway and Henderson Avenue in the Port Richmond neighborhood of Staten Island.
Thursday, August 4, 2022 beginning at 5 pm - Budos Band / Roge / hosted by Tom Ferrie - Free.
Friday, August 5, 2022 beginning at 6 pm - Maimouna Keita African Dance Company - Free.
Saturday, August 6, 2022 beginning at 5 pm - Ana Tijoux / Meridian Brothers/ Bembona (DJ Set) - Free.
Sunday, August 7, 2022 beginning at 4 pm - Staten Island celebrates Jessie Lee Daniels with Force MDs & Friends DJ Sl and Fred ·Bugsy· Buggs - Free.
Saturday & Sunday, August 6 - 7, 2022 begins at 11 am and runs to 7 pm on Saturday and until 8 pm on Sunday - Snug Harbor Dance Festival. Many different classes ranging from one to two hours by various instructors, many of whom are local. Free / Pay What You Will. The event is being hosted at various buildings at Snug Harbor on located at 1000 Richmond Terrace in the Randall Manor neighobrhood of Staten Island. The buildings includes the Newhouse Center for Contemporary Art, Cottage Row, the Snug Harbor Wetlands, Building G / The Dance Center, Leah Mitchell Studio – G202 on 2nd floor. Free.
The Little Victory Theatre is located at 4089 Victory Blvd in the Travis Chelsea neighborhood in the central western section of Staten Island opens Mame -The Hit Classical Broadway Musical. The show will be performed on Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays, July 29, 30, 31 & August 5, 6, 7, 2022 beginning at 8 pm on Friday & Saturday and at 2 pm on Sunday. Tickets are $25 / $30 at www.littlevictorytheatre.com.
Use the links below to see details about the concerts, theater and movie events above, as well as for details on the freesummer concerts, theater and movies for the rest of this summer on Staten Island.
Enjoy your week, and in the meantime here are links to all sorts of summer activities in all five boros, which include further details to many of the events above. Enjoy.
1) Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival, Greek Festival, Pow Wow & Jamaica Jerk Festival in Queens, 2) Shakespeare at Bronx Music Center, Bronx Night Market, Piazza di Belmont & the Bronx Dominican Parade returns to the Bronx; 3) Gallery Players, Piper Theater Performances, Burlesque at the Beach and BRIC Concert Series continues in Brooklyn; 4) Songwriters Showcase, Ailey Moves & St. Lukes Concert, Mame Opens at the Victory Theater, Much Ado about Nothing, Final Movie / Concert at the Lighthouse Museum on Staten Island; 5) SHENYC continues, Dance Intensive, Twelfth Night & NY Asian Film Fest ending, Movies and MacBeth Begins in Manhattan, and Free Outdoor Concerts, Movies & Theater, Farmers Markets, NYC Public Outdoor Swimming Pools, Street Fairs, Public Beaches
NYC Weekend Weather. The temperature highs will be in the mid to high 80's and the temperature lows will be in the low to mid 70's. Winds will be 5 - 10 mph all weekend. The humidity will fall from 50% - 70% on Friday, to 50% on Saturday, rising to 50% - 65% on Sunday. There's a chance of about a quarter inch of rain sometime between 10 pm Friday night and 4 am Saturday morning. All in all not a bad weather weekend.
The photo at right is of the dragon festival in Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens. The festival returns this weekend.
Things To Do This Weekend in Queens NYC
Thursday - Sunday, July 28 - July 31, 2022 - Thurs / Fri / Sat / Sun - 5 pm to 11 pm - St Irene Chrysovalantou Church - This Astoria street fair is along 23rd Avenue from 36th Street to the Amtrak trestle. Traditional Greek food, music, and folk dances every night, as well as rides for the kids and a marketplace. The feast day celebration starts with a mass on Wednesday at 7.30 pm inside and continues with various religious services through the end of the feast on Sunday.
On Friday, July 29, 2022 beginning at 7.30 pm / Hip to Hip Theater Free - Pericles - There's a performance of Shakespeare at The Voelker Orth Museum is located at 149-19 38th Avenue in Flushing.
On Sunday, July 31, 2022 from 2 - 5 pm - there's a performance by Ballet Folklorico Mexicano de Nueva York Guelaguetza Festival at Socrates Sculpture Park which is located at 32-01 Vernon Blvd at Broadway in Astoria / LIC.
Friday through Sunday, July 29 - 31, 2022 - There's a Pow Wow at the Queens County Farm at 73-50 Little Neck Parkway in Bellerose Manor / Little Neck neighborhoods of Queens. Performances run from 7 - 10 pm Friday; 12 noon - 5 pm and 7 - 10 pm Saturday; and from 12 noon - 5 pm Sunday. The Grand Entry of tribes is at 7 pm Friday, 1 pm and 7 pm Saturday and 1 pm Sunday. Gates open at 6 pm Friday, and 10 am on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets run $15 / adult and $8 / kids 12 and under [discounted rates for full weekend passes].
Saturday & Sunday, July 30 & 31, 2022 - from 9 am - 5 pm - Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival at Meadow Lake in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Live boat races, food, shopping and entertainment. Free admission. www.hkdbf-ny.org. Free admission.
Sunday, July 31, 2022 - Jamaica Jerk Festival - From 12 noon to 8 pm - Carribean Food Festival with music at Roy Wilkins Park 177-01 Baisley Blvd at Merrick in Jamaica. Admission $45 advance / likely more at door / Children under 10 Free. Tickets at www.jerkfestivalny.com.
Use the links below to see details about the concerts, theater and movie events above, as well as for details on the freesummer concerts, theater and movies for the rest of this summer in Queens. For example next Monday free summer movies in Astoria Park, free performances of Shakespeare in Queens parks, a free movie in Rufus King Park on Friday 7/29 in Jamaica, a paid movie with workshop at the Queens Botanical Garden this Saturday 7/30, free concerts and dance performances in Athens Square Park on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in Astoria, live music and dance in Travers Park in Jackson Heights on Sunday 7/31 and a free concert in Gantry State Park in Tuesdays.
We've mostly been trying to stay abreast of all the summer events this past month. Event schedules changed, some schedules have been reduced, and some venues have closed or remain on hiatus. But by and large, most venues are back up and running on some kind of level, while trying to protect the health and safety of their associates as well as the general public vis a vis CoVid.
So as we remained focused on staying abreast of the many summer events easily accessible to most of the denizens of NYC and NYS, we did not take our eye off of the more serious issues swirling around us. The following is a list of events we've been monitoring and researching along the way, which we intend to delve into in the coming weeks, and perhaps months.
Untimely Death: Two Russian Oligarchs Live on Ivana Trump's Block
I have a few unanswered questions regarding Ivana Trump's sudden, unexpected, accidental death.
Ivana Trump lived in a building in Manhattan on the Upper East Side in which Donald Trump reportedly still owns a total of five units. It just so happens that Ivana's residence is also on a block where two Russian Oligarchs own large residences, and for a time, where the divorced wife of a third Oligarch, lived. The wife of the third Oligarch is Dasha Zhukova who was married to Roman Abramovich. Zhukova became fast friends with Ivanka Trump, after being introduced by Wendi Deng, the former wife of Rupert Murdoch [Fox News / WSJ / NY Post] sometime around 2007.
The Russian Oligarchs who own residences on the same block where Ivana Trump lived, are Oleg Deripaska and Len Blavatnik. Deripaska's residence is just across the street from Ivana's residence, which if he were to be a spy, would be an ideal a location. Dasha Zhukova [the former wife of Abramovich] lived in Deripaska's residence in 2018, apparently departing from that residence sometime before September 2019.
Zhukova moved ten blocks north of Ivana's block into a large four townhouse development upon which Zhukova's former husband, Roman Abramovich was working. According to a March 12, 2022 report in the Mercury News, Abramovich transferred the real estate, valued at $92 million, to Zhukova in 2018. In 2022 the Russian Oligarch sanctions hit, and now there's a question of whether transferred wealth to relatives [like former wife Zhukova] should also be sanctioned.
According to a March 17, 2022 report in the New Yorker, "... [Russian Opposition Leader Alexei] Navalny has described Abramovich as “one of the key enablers and beneficiaries of Russian kleptocracy...”. Abramovich is considered one of Putin's most trusted Oligarchs, having survived Putin's Oligarch purge after Russian President Boris Yeltsin's fall.
Abramovich must be an incredibly skillful manipulator - not just of Putin - but Abramovich was also the only Russian Oligarch who Ukrainian President Zelensky asked the U.S. not to sanction. Zelensky claimed it was in order to unencumber Abramovich to broker a Russian / Ukrainian peace deal in Turkey [see link below for further details]. The pact never even came close to happening. Separately, the two nations recently cut a deal to allow free passage of food through the Black Sea and Bosporous Straits, which less than 24 hours later Putin 'honored' by bombing the Ukrainian port of Odessa, from which the Ukrainian food is to be shipped.
The deal providing two of the world's largest food producers [Russia & Ukraine] safe passage of food through the Black Sea and the Bosporous Straits was brokered - not by the Russian kleptocrat Abramovich - but by the UN and Turkey. The Bosporous Straits is a Black Sea bottleneck, which is controlled by NATO ally Turkey, per an international agreement made decades ago.
Back to Ivana's Trump's residence and her sudden, unexpected and accidental death. So Ivana's daughter, Ivanka Trump, became quite friendly with Abramovich's former wife, Dasha Zhukova. They became such good friends that they began interacting socially at very public events well over a decade ago. The first social event I found documented was in 2014 when Zhukova reportedly invited Ivanka and Jared to a fundraiser organized by her husband, Roman Abramovich, for a Jewish Museum he founded in Moscow. In 2016, as Donald Trump was running for President, Ivanka, Wendi Deng and Zhukova were also photographed at the the U.S. Open in Queens. And in 2017 Dasha Zhukova was reportedly invited to the Trump Inauguration weekend celebrations. Apparently there have been many other interactions, in between those public appearances and since, including some Abramovich investments placed in Jared Kushner's brother's [Josh] company.
My point in all of this, is that the Russians could have had social access to Ivana Trump's residence and / or were in a position to have access to Ivana Trump's residence via more nefarious means. Given Trump owned so many units in the building, and probably owns the building management company, a lot of the independent context surrounding Ivana's death would be hard to obtain by the authorities without strong cause. I heard nothing about any review of any building video footage on the property itself, nor from the surrounding buildings. After the funeral, Ivana's body was subsequently delivered to a Trump golf course in New Jersey, which is private property, owned by Donald Trump.
The details of Ivana Trump's autopsy were scant. The reporting of them had an uncertain quality to them. None of the reports indicated who called in the death. Not by name, not by association and not by any role. I find that odd. The first cited cause of death was "cardiac arrest" and then later the cause of death was said to be from 'blunt' injuries suffered in the fall. Ivana Trump was an athlete, and only 73 years old, so falling down the stairs, and dying from the fall, while believable, is also unbelievable.
It's worth noting here, that accidental deaths are reportedly a Putin specialty. A Russian media baron, Boris Berezovsky, who was on the outs with Putin, reportedly suddenly, unexpectedly and accidentally died in his own bathroom at the age of 67 in 2013. The police determined that the cause of death was "unexplained", but it was surmised that it could have been caused by chemical, biolgical or nuclear material.
The timing of Ivana's death, coincidentally worked in the Donald's favor, as the NYS Attorney General was about to follow through with depositions with the Trump children. Because of Ivana's death, all of the Trump children depositions were postponed by the NYS Attorney General. The Trump family funeral also provided an opportunity for Donald Trump to meet with his children without being asked any questions. I mention this because it's been suggested that Trump may have tried to tamper with a witness for the Congressional Hearings on the Trump Insurrection.
We know from Trump's campaigning in 2016, as well as from the January 6 Congressional Hearings of the Insurrection, that Donald Trump is not above encouraging others to do violence, when it serves his purposes. Ivana Trump reportedly kept contact with the Donald, even after their marriage ended, but the divorce was reportedly fairly hostile, although it also appeared that their relationship settled down, and might possibly have healed, over time.
Ivana and Ivanka Trump were reportedly close, as the only two women in that iteration of the Trump family. So, given the above as backdrop, what I found of particular interest, was the body language between the Donald, and Ivanka and Jared, at Ivana's funeral. They did not look each other in the eye, and Ivanka and Jared seemed to flee the rest of the family immediately after the funeral. Given the many funerals I've attended, that didn't strike me as normal.
These are just some unasked and unanswered questions that came to mind while I watched the Trumps mourn one of their own. I suspect neither Trump nor Putin will let up with their shenanigans, because right now both of them are losing, and by the time the 2024 election rolls around, both of them might become desperate. Stay tuned.
Free Things To Do on Staten Island - Free Summer Movies in NYC Parks
August 12, 2022 /Staten Island Neighborhoods / Staten Island Free Summer Outdoor Movies NYC / Staten Buzz NYC.
Summer is in full swing. A number of community groups in collaboration with the NYC Parks Department and frequently some measure of government funding, have put together a summer full of free summer movies in the parks. The free movie events listed below are designed for young and old alike and they're FREE.
We'll continue to add to this listing of free movies in the park on Staten Island as we become aware of them.
Gay Pride Parade & PrideFest in Manhattan, the Jamaica Dance Festival Continues and the Astoria Park Fireworks Returns to Queens, the Gowanus Art Festival, Funday Festival, Midwood Mardis Gras & Tastes of Crown Heights in Brooklyn; Bronx River Sounds Art Fest & Bronx Night Market in the Bronx; Polish Festival & Free Concert for Ukraine on Staten Island; NYC Public Outdoor Swimming Pools Open Next Week, Early Voting Ends Sunday & NYS Primary Election Tuesday
Weather. The temperatures will be about 90 degrees this weekend, and the lows about 70 degrees. The humidity will be between 50% - 60% all weekend. Winds will be about 12 mph Saturday and about 17 mph Sunday. No rain is expected over the weekend, but about a 1/2 inch to an inch is due to arrive on Monday.
The photo at right was taken at the Gay Pride Parade in the West Village in Manhattan prior to the pandemic.
Things To Do This Weekend in Manhattan
Saturday, June 25, 2022 from 10 am - 6 pm - Little West 12th Street Block Party - Along Little West 12th Street between 9th Avenue and Washington Street in the West Village.
The Gay Pride Parade returns to the West Village on Sunday, June 26th beginning at 12 noon at Madison Square Park at 26th Street and 5th Avenue in Midtown Manhattan. The parade turns west toward the West Village at 8th Street, continues onto Christopher Street before turning north on 7th Avenue, ending at 15th Street.
Also on Sunday, June 26, 2022 there's also a Gay Pride street fair along 4th Avenue between 8th and 13th streets in the Village. It begins at 11 am and ends around 6 pm. The fair includes entertainment, food and wellness booths.
The NYS primary election is on Tuesday, June 28th. On the ballot are the following races: U.S. Senate, Governor, Other state executives, State Assembly, Special state legislative, School boards, Municipal government and Ballot measures.
Click on the image above to access the poll finder website, so you can easily find where to vote in your neighborhood. Remember this is the land of the free and the home of the brave, and many of our ancestors died for our right to vote. A similar struggle for freedom from oppression is going on in Ukraine right now. So in as much as you can, do your homework before voting for those you choose to represent you / us. There's still time to do some research on candidates on the web.
The New York City election is Tuesday June 28th, and polls are open from 6 am - 9 pm. Click on the graphic above, to find your poll site.
FYI - July 4th Fireworks celebrations coming later tonight.
Article 1496
Staten Island - Free & a Few Paid Summer Concerts 2022
Free Things To Do on Staten Island NYC
August 12, 2022 / Staten Island Neighborhoods / Staten Island Free Summer Outdoor Concerts NYC / Staten Buzz NYC.
Editor's Note - Note that only ASTERISKED LOCATIONS have been updated. Pay attention to the concert dates / years. We will be updating / adding a few more concerts between now and the end of September. So check back periodically for updates which you can note by the date changing above.
Summer is in full swing. A number of community groups in collaboration with the NYC Parks Department and frequently some measure of government funding, have put together a summer full of films and free summer concerts in the parks. The free concerts listed below are designed for young and old alike and they're FREE.
Music / Concerts in the Park on Staten Island 2022
Free Things To Do in the Staten Island - Free Summer Theater Park in NYC
August 12, 2022 / Staten Island Neighborhoods / Staten Island Things To Do / Staten Buzz NYC.
Summer is in full swing. A number of community groups in collaboration with the NYC Parks Department and frequently some measure of government funding, have put together a summer full of free summer theater in the parks. The free theatre events listed below are designed for young and old alike and they're FREE.
Editor's Note - Note that only ASTERISKED LOCATIONS have been updated. Pay attention to the performance dates / years. We will be updating / adding this summer theater report between now and the end of September. So check back periodically for updates which you can note by the date changing above.
Free Theater / Plays in the Park on Staten Island 2022
CoVid Guidelines Issued by State & Federal Govt Sometimes at Cross Purposes, NYC Tourism Coming Back, Why There are Two NYS Primaries in 2022, Former Mayor de Blasio Running for Congress, Inflation & Wages are Up but Expected to Slow, Public Schools End School Year on 6/27/22, Will the Rangers take the Stanley Cup, Will the Celtics Win the Championship & Will the Mets & Yankees hold onto their Leads?
This report is a catch up on some of the key local news items over the past couple of months. Our last news update was at the end of February [2/22/22].
CoVid Regulatory Guidelines Differ at Federal & State Levels
On March 17, 2022 the NYS CoVid general restrictions under the H.E.R.O. Act expired. The expiration did not include the masks mandate requirement on NYC & NYS public transit.
On April 18, 2022 the CDC / Federal rescinded their mask mandates on federal transportation, while - as noted above - NYS has kept its mask mandate in effect. As one might expect, this has led to some confusion. So to be clear, when using the MTA, LIRR or Metro North trains, masks are still required.
Be advised that local businesses have the right to decide what rules apply to customers who enter their facilities. For example, Broadway theaters and many other entertainment venues still request proof of vaccination and / or masks indoors. Broadway theaters extended their mask mandate requirement of attendees at performances through June 2022. Conversely, most NYC restaurateurs no longer check vaccination status, let their customers decide whether or not to wear masks, and most restaurateurs provide the option of indoor / outdoor dining, which was established as an economic response to CoVid, in support of local restaurants by the de Blasio Administration.
Vaccination rates for NYC and NYS continue to inch up quite slowly, but that's now a somewhat dated metric, because if one is not boosted, the CoVid immunity and protection fades over time. The CoVid vaccination protection generally recedes significantly while approaching 6 months after the first two shots, so getting boosted is important, particularly if you are immuno-compromised, have an underlying condition, or fall into an elderly age group [over 50 years].
NYC Tourism Bouncing Back
NYC tourism is coming back and the city economy is picking up. The past month or so, we've been inundated with notices of public events and entertainment venues coming back to life. We've not yet gotten back into the full rhythm to accommodate as many as we'd like, but we're getting there. Our monthly things to do calendars will be coming back to life bit by bit, starting this weekend. The calendar is accessible from the top tool bar, by clicking the first button from the left.
Mayor Adams said yesterday [6/6/22] that NYC hotels are booking at 95% of pre-pandemic levels. The NY Post stated in an April 20, 2022 report, that the NYC hotel business would be down 55%. We'll see how this plays out by the end of the year.
The Unofficial Start of Summer Comes with Memorial Day Parades in Brooklyn, Queens & Staten Island; Fleet Week is Underway & the Intrepid is Hosting Events, Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibit, Losaida and LES Festival in Manhattan, BAM Dance Africa Festival in Brooklyn, Sunnyside Gardens Park Fair in Queens, National Puerto Rican Day Parade Festival at 152nd St in Bx & Bronx Arts Ensemble & Night Market, Staten Island Mall Carnival Began, Golf Courses have been Open & it's the Opening Weekend of NYC Beaches, Farmers Markets, Street Fairs & more
Weather. The temperature highs will be near 80 on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, rising to the mid 80's or higher on Monday. The temperature lows will be in the 60's all weekend. Over a half inch of rain is expected between about 2 pm Friday and about 4 pm Saturday, and the rest of the weekend will be dry. Winds will be 5 - 10 mph on Friday, Saturday and Monday, falling to 3 - 5 mph on Sunday. The humidity will be 80% on Friday, 70% on Saturday, and 60% on Sunday and Monday. All in all a pretty fair weather for the three day weekend.
The photo at right was taken at Coney Island in Brooklyn in 2019 prior to the outbreak of the CoVid pandemic. While CoVid hasn't gone away [and may never], it seems the worst of it is behind us and folks are beginning to return to what used to be their normal lives. Coney Island opened in April this year.
Manhattan Things To Do This Weekend NYC
In the photo at right is just one of thousands of artworks for sale in a prior year at the Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibit which begins Saturday and runs through Monday.
On Monday, May 30, 2022 the InwoodMemorial Day Parade begins at 11.30 am at Dykman Street and marches up Broadway into Inwood Park where a short flag raising ceremony will be held.
The Lower East Side Festival runs Friday through Sunday from 6 pm to 1 am [and Saturday also from 12 noon - 6 pm] at the Theater for the New City at 155 East 10th Street in the East Village. The festival includes theater, music, dance, film and kids stuff. Free.
The Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibit begins Saturday and runs through the weekend. The art fair runs from 12 noon to 6 pm daily along University Avenue from Washington Square Park South to 13th Street in the Village.
The Losaida Festival is on Sunday, May 29, 2022 from 12 noon - 5 pm - Along Avenue C and 8th Street [Losaida Street] in the East Village. The fair celebrates Puerto Rican food, music and culture. Free.
It's Fleet Week in NYC and the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum is hosting a number of activities, topped off on Monday at 10 am with a Memorial Day Closing Ceremony. See www.intrepidmuseum.org/fleet-week for details.
This is Fleet Week and a number of U.S. Navy ships are docked in Manhattan and Staten Island. A number of events are planned in both locations. For details see http://militarynews.com/app/fleetweeknewyork/events.html
On Memorial Day, I decided to make a trip to the First Calvary Cemetery to visit the graves of those who gave their lives defending this nation because the founding charters promise all [wo]men the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. They fought for a noble cause I thought as I made my way, on a beautiful day, to the Calvary cemetery in Queens.
The First Calvary cemetery opened in the late 1840’s [circa 1847 – 1848] and was located only a short ferry ride away from Manhattan, up Newtown Creek. A couple more cemeteries were opened as the 19th century wore on, as most of Queens was still rural farmlands and woodlands. Many of the burials of the first century of operation were of Catholic Irish, Italian and Polish immigrants - many of which were children who died because of poor living conditions and medical care. Many soldiers had been buried here as well, many of whom were from the Civil War era.
As I was viewing a collection of the tombstones, reflecting on the lives sacrificed in the war over slavery, as well as the more recent wars that pulled nearly the entire planet into battle, a figure in the distance caught my attention. They appeared to be making their way in my direction, in this lonely empty section of the cemetery. I pulled out of my musings, and began to focus on this emerging presence as they made their way up the hill.
As they came closer, I could see that it was an old man, of medium height, with long black and grey hair and a weathered, leathery, tan skin. He was wearing an old brown work shirt and khaki trousers and beaten leather shoes. No, they were mocassins.
I'm not sure why I thought of this, but his countenance resembled that of a legendary American Indian: Chief Joseph. Chief Joseph was a tribal leader of the Nez Perce tribe in the Wallowa Valley in northeast Oregon. Chief Joseph was born in 1840, only years before this cemetery was founded. He had actually visited New York City in 1897, to march alongside Buffalo Bill in a Wild West Parade.
The man slowly raised his right arm, palm open and fingers standing straight up like the Boy Scout salute, and in a deep full voice he said,
“How.”
I stood a bit at attention, as I returned the greeting.
“Hi. How are you today?”
He spoke again, this time in a language I did not understand.
“Mumba goycha tay.”
I looked at him and shook my head back and forth indicating that I did not understand what he’d just said.
This Staten Island Public Swimming Pool Report Includes Contact Info NYC
May 25, 2022 / Staten Island Neighborhoods / Staten Island Swimming Pools, Parks & Sports / Staten Buzz NYC.
Staten Island offers easy access to a wide range of recreational swimming pools. The following is an attempt to provide you with a view of the range of public swimming pools available in the parks of Staten Island. We encourage you to make use of these facilities because they provide healthy, fun, and frequently free or inexpensive entertainment for both individuals and families with children.
Staten Island outdoor public pools will open beginning Tuesday June 28th, 2022. A few of the indoor pools will be closed this summer to allow for construction and improvements.
Generally pool hours are from 11 am - 7 pm daily, with a one hour break between 3 and 4 pm for cleaning. Bring a padlock for your locker and proper swimming trunks are required [for boys this means not shorts as trunks must have liners]. Don't bring food, glass bottles, newspapers, electronics, floaters and no or as few valuables as you can bring to minimize your risk because the park isn't responsible for your losses. Free sunscreen will be made available while supplies last.
As of this posting 5.25.22, masks are NOT required for indoor activity including in the locker rooms, but stay tuned as it's possible that could change.
Last Saturday there were a few Pro Choice rallies in NYC. Most notable among them were the one that started at Cadman Plaza in Brooklyn, marching across the Brooklyn Bridge to Foley Square. And there was another group that gathered in Union Square which also marched to Foley Square.
I have some video and photos, but possibly the most interesting part of this report are the perspectives I picked up along the way, which provided me with a deeper understanding of the issues, primarily from a women's point of view.
First there's the science ...
Hi. Following up on the conversations I had and overheard led me to a lot of new information that I'm still processing. I hope to return to finish this sometime in the summer.
Last night I went to see the red carpet arrivals at the Met Gala. The Met Gala is considered to be one of the most fashionable events of the year. It's by invitation only, costs between $30,000 and $35,000 per ticket. The event is generally said to run from about 6 pm to about 9.30 or 10.30 pm.
This year the fashion theme was of the opulence, fame and excess that accompanied the Gilded Age. But you'd never have known there was a theme, because the rich and famous of today - as back then - pretty much do whatever they want. And many of their outfits said just that.
Many observers think that the red carpet arrivals are the height of the show ... but then many observers likely never make it inside the museum to see how the other half parties.
Since this was my first time covering this event, I arrived unfashionably on time, around 6 pm, taking the subway to 86th Street as my limosine driver had the night off, and it really didn't matter, because my limosine has been in the shop for repairs for pretty much my entire lifetime.
Nice Weather Weekend for the 5 Boro Bike Ride NYC, Yankee Peddler Day at Historic Richmond Town Staten Island, Night Food Market & Orchid Show in the Bronx, May Day Festival & BAM Queer Film Weekend in Brooklyn, International Cultural Festival Queens & Dance Fest at Wolman Rink & Met Gala Monday in Manhattan ... and more ...
Weather NYC. The temperature highs will rise from the low 60's on Friday to the high 60's on Saturday and Sunday. The temperature lows will rise from the low 40's on Friday, to the high 40's on Saturday to about 50 on Sunday. The humidity will be very low on Friday, ranging from 10% to 40%, rising to 30% - 45% on Saturday and then 35% to 55% on Sunday. The wind will finally settle down to 5 - 10 mph throughout the weekend. No rain is expected this weekend.
In the photo at right are cyclists participating in the 5 Boro Bike Ride as they make their way through Queens in a prior year. The cycling event returns Sunday. See details below.
Manhattan Things To Do This Weekend NYC
There's a Coney Island Polar Bear Club event on Saturday & Sunday at Wolman Rink in Central Park from 2 pm - 10 pm. It's a charity event and tickets aren't cheap at $191 / person. See www.wolmanrinknyc.com for details.
The 5 Boro Bike Ride returns to all five boroughs of NYC on Sunday. Details in Manhattan street fairs.
The Met Gala returns to the Metropolitan Museum on Monday.
Opening Dates, Hours, Items & How To Shop - Staten Island Farmers Markets SI
May 7, 2022 / Staten Island Neighborhoods / Food, Wine & Restaurants on Staten Island / Staten Island Shops & Shopping / Staten Buzz NYC.
This report contains the opening dates, times / hours, items / selection, as well as links to online maps of all major Staten Island farmer markets, including address locations on Staten Island.
The Staten Island farmers markets on this page are located in or around the Staten Island neighborhoods of St. George, Snug Harbor, West Brighton, Heartland Village, Fort Wadsworth, Manor Heights, Clifton, Mariners Harbor, Historic Richmond Town, South Beach, Tompkinsville, Westerleigh, Stapleton, Port Richmond and Tottenville.
Enjoy shopping and eating the fresh and natural foods and product of our local farmers and food manufacturers.
In the photo at right you see a group of Yankees fans on their way to the game on Sunday, April 10th. While the game was scheduled to begin at 8 pm, these super fans were on their way to the ball park at 4 pm.
They were brimming with enthusiasm, as the Yankees' 2022 season was off to a good start, beating their arch nemesis, the Boston Red Sox, in the season opener on Friday and again on Saturday. Unfortunately, the Red Sox rallied late in the game and won 4 - 3.
The video shows a few scenes of this group's talent and enthusiasm for the Yankees.
Russia Ukraine War Report Series - March - May 2022
Updated April 4, 2022 / International News NYC / Gotham Buzz.
This section contains our Russia Ukraine War Report Series which we began in March of 2022. We hope it will end by the end of May, but who knows how long it will take the Russian people to rise up against the oppressive Putin dictatorship / regime.
In Part VI, we're going to zoom into the current situation, looking at their wars are being financed, recent politics in both Russia and Ukraine, and popular support for the war in each nation.
THIS IS A WORK IN PROGRESS. IT IS EXPECTED TO BE FINISHED BY SOMETIME NEXT WEEK.
A Little More History
The Cossacks were legendary fighters. The name trouble w/ authority so headed to the steppes.
Russia Relations - include Catherine II and Potemkin Village - Two premiers, Nikita Kruschev and Leonid Brezhnev, were Ukrainians. And both of them helped moved the Soviet Union toward a less autocratic repressive regime.
Industry & Natural Resources
Natural gas, wheat, corn, fertilizer and the Black Sea / Azov. They are a country rich in natural resources including coal, iron and steel, natural gas and oil (?). They have x number of nuke plants. They became a technology and weapons sector during Soviet times in the 1980's.
There's a natural gas pipeline that flows through the Ukraine that provides a good part of Europe with its energy. It's still flowing as it also provides Russia with a significant amount of its reserves.
Languages and ethnicity is mixed. Borders fluctuated with the Poles in the west and the Russians in the east.
Ukrainian, Russian and Polish. Ironically the eastern section of the nation is where Russian is based and they voted to go west toward Europe. The western, Ukrainian / Polish part leaned toward Russia. There's enough of an ethnic and language mix there to defy easy categorizations, so beware. Lang map.
The cities are predominantly in the east along the Dnieper River, Black Sea, Sea of Azov and the Russian border. That's also. where the industries and technology are. The western half of the nation is largely agrarian.
How Mentally Ill is the Australian Born Oligarch Rupert Murdoch?
Murdoch & his Rubber Stamp 'WSJ Editorial Board' Continue to Push the Bounds of Indecency with this Image
A Former Prime Minister of Rupert Murdoch's Native Australia called Murdoch a 'Cancer on Democracy', Murdoch was Called 'Unfit to Run an International Company' by a Member(s) of British Parliament, Murdoch's Company was Alleged to have Hacked the Phones of the Victims of 911 for Headlines, as well as the Phone of a Mother Whose Daughter was Murdered [also for headlines], he's been Accused of Government Corruption Many Times, and for Inciting the U.S., Britain & Australia to Invade Iraq for [Oil and] Ratings
You don't have to have a journalism degree to see what's wrong with this image.
You don't have to be a member of an Editorial Board of one of the nation's three daily newspapers to see what's wrong with this image.
You don't need to be an editor to see what's wrong with this image.
What you do need is some sense of decency.
Which is what is totally lacking in the character of the man who controls the Wall Street Journal and it's Editorial Board - Australian born Oligarch, Rupert Murdoch.
After researching and watching him since 2015, I have come to the conclusion that he is easily a sociopath [weak moral compass], and more likely a psychopath [unstable and aggressive personality disorder].
See for yourself on these two WSJ pages before they hopefully have the decency or shame to take it down.
It's worth reminding people that this man, Rupert Murdoch, controls or wields incredible influence in about half of our daily national news media [Fox, NY Post, WSJ & ABC News], which is why things have become so messed up since he arrived on our shores. But the TV newspeople who do and don't work for him, fail to inform the nation, by calling him out.
I believe most Americans don't even know who he is [somebody needs to conduct a poll]. And he greatly influences - if not controls - the national conversation.
Part VI of the Ukraine series coming this week.
Weekend Things To Do NYC - March 2022
This section contains our Weekend Things To Do reports for the month of March 2022.
This report is a catch up on some of the key local news items over the past couple of weeks.
MTA Ridership Slowly Inching Back to Pre-Pandemic Levels / Hochul Announces Fare Capping Program / MTA Crime not as Huge as the Corporate Broadcast Media Sensationalizes it
In the photo at right are a number of Chinese American women, who participated in the Chinese New Year Parade celebrating the year of the Tiger in Chinatown in Manhattan, were out to see and be seen last Sunday.
We've been tracking MTA ridership since the pandemic began. The subway ridership plummeted down 90% when the pandemic broke in the Spring of 2020. By the fall of 2020 MTA ridership had risen to a loss of 80%, rising to a loss of 50% - 66% in the Spring of 2021, and then a loss of 35% - 55% in the Fall of 2021. As of this week, the MTA subway ridership losses were in the range of 28% - 43% versus pre-pandemic.
On February 7, 2022, NYS Governor Kathy Hochul announced a new 'Fare Capping Program' whereby passengers would only have to pay for 12 full fare rides in a week [but using the same device / MetroCard] and after which the rides for the rest of the week would be free [Monday - Sunday]. The program begins Monday, February 28th and is expected to run for four months.
The corporate broadcast media seems to sensationalize everything these days in order to ratchet up their ratings, revenue and profit. MTA Ridership during the winter a year ago was about half the pre-pandemic level, and today it's about two thirds the pre-pandemic level meaning it has risen about 50% vs a year ago. According to NYPD Compustat, crime in the subway during the past 28 days is up 33%, so crime isn't rising as fast as ridership.
Nonetheless, crime in the subways is up by about the same percentage versus the pre-pandemic levels, so it's a bigger problem than it was before the pandemic started. It is believed, that the reason for the higher transit crime rate, is that as fewer people rode the rails during the pandemic, the homeless moved in and were able to use the subway as their shelter.
Late last week NYC Mayor Eric Adams and NYS Governor Kathy Hochul announced that the city and the state would collaborate to increase the NYPD presence in the subways to remove and / or assist the homeless from making the MTA their home by offering them an option to leave or an option to get medical, psychiatric and social services help. To that end it was noted that the NYPD upped the deployment of NYPD [about 1,000 officers] into the transit system, focusing - it seems - on the major hubs, and the Governor was working on multi-billion healthcare plans which would include provisions for helping the mentally ill and homeless.
NYC & NYS Vaccination Rates Well Ahead of National Rates
The current NYC vaccination rate is 77%, with another 9% having received at least one dose [86%]. The current NYS vaccination rate is 75%, with another 12% having received at least one dose [87%]. The current U.S. vaccination rate is 65%, with another 12% having received at least one dose [77%].
As a result of the vaccination rates, and with the passing of the Omicron super spreader holiday season, CoVid Omicron new case growth, hospitalizations and deaths have been declining at the NYC, NYS and USA levels.
For New York City the weekly, daily average, test rate of 1.7% for new cases, with only a weekly, daily average new case rate of 707 reported, a weekly, daily average rate of 35 hospitalizations and a weekly, daily average rate of 17 deaths.
For New York State the same weekly, daily average rates are 2% positive new test cases, about 1,750 daily new cases, about 200 daily new hospitalizations and about 35 daily new deaths.
For the United States the same rates are 8% positive new cases [this is a week old number compared to the others herein], about 84,878 new cases, about 8,642 hospitalizations [this is a week old number compared to the others herein] and 1,964 daily deaths.
NYC and NYS are leading the rest of the U.S. in pulling out of the pandemic, as the southern and central states are lagging behind. If you look at a map showing vaccination rates versus a map showing infection rates, you can see that they are inversely related.
Are these maps indicative of the intelligence, or how well informed the people of each state are? Do the smart people live in the states with the higher vaccination rates, or are the people who got infected with CoVid at higher rates [because they didn't get vaccinated], living in states where they have fewer or less reliable information sources, like Fox News? Studies have shown that Fox News enhances people's ignorance of the facts. Look it up.
On Wednesday morning I made my way into Manhattan to observe the funeral of slain NYPD Officer Mora. To be sure, it was a solemn occasion. I got off the subway near 42nd Street and Fifth Avenue. Once above ground, I made my way to Fifth Avenue and 42nd where I came across the largest gathering of police officers I have ever seen in my life [see photo at right].
As I walked up Fifth Avenue, I could hear the eulogies over the loud speakers, echoing in the street. I took a few photos and some video of the gathering which spanned all the way up to 50th Street by St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Eventually I had to detour off of Fifth Avenue, make my way down to Sixth Avenue, and then cut back in at 50th Street to get close to the cathedral on Fifth Avenue.
A Communal Gathering of Policemen from the TriState Area and Beyond, at Officer Mora's Funeral at St. Patrick's Cathedral on Wednesday, February 2nd, 2022
As I walked and listened I looked around at all of the policemen gathered in honor of a fellow member of the fraternal order of policemen – not just of New York City but of NYS - and for that matter - the U.S. All of the police men and women were standing, some standing silently listening to the speeches, while others made small talk with each other, between the speeches, about their kids, their families, their jobs, their departments [homicide / detectives / street patrolmen], cars and boats, as well as chatting about which police department or organization they represented.
It reminded me of other funerals I had attended, which it’s been said, are for the living – not the dead. Yes, we come to honor the dead, but they have since gone. And it is left to us who are left behind, to make sense of things. It is our job to figure out how to take the lessons their lives and make them work for us, so that they will not have died in vain.
The expansiveness of the showing of support was somewhere between impressive and overwhelming, as I walked silently through this sea of dark blue, which filled over 8 city blocks on a wide avenue - and which spilled well into the cross streets both east and west of the entire eight blocks. There were thousands of police, mostly men with some women, mostly white but also many minorities, who had come to pay their last respects for a member of their ranks who had made the ultimate sacrifice. A sacrifice that all of them know they must be ready to make each day as they don their dark coats to serve and protect the community. Us.
I noticed the badges sewn to their coats, representing Trenton and Teaneck New Jersey, Suffolk and Nassau Counties, New York State, and of course the NYPD, as well as a smattering of policemen from more distant communities. They projected a sense of sadness and courtesy, as I made my way through the crowd. I sensed that they must also have felt some measure of comfort, standing there, side by side with others like themselves, knowing that they are supported by so many others who share their sense of duty, ready to face down danger.
This seemed a bit like a George Floyd like moment for the police in the city and perhaps the nation. These two young officers, were senselessly murdered, while responding to a domestic violence call within a few blocks of the 32nd precinct Harlem police station where the two police officers worked. Shortly after the policemen entered the apartment, the assailant shot them down with a barrage of bullets from a semi-automatic gun which the assailant had stolen in Maryland.
As I came upon St Patrick’s Cathedral, surrounded by the police, it seemed like a fortress with its big, thick church doors closed, to keep out the noise and cold air while the mass continued inside. A coterie of media people were on a platform across the street from the front of the cathedral, waiting for the doors to open. The Mayor, Police Commissioner Sewell and Wilbur Mora’s brother and sister gave speeches. Karina, Mora's sister, gave her speech in Spanish, as the Moras immigrated here from the Dominican Republic decades ago.
The graphic at right is a Vox headline that asks why the diverging trends in crime vs violent crime.
Australian born billionaire Rupert Murdoch controls about half of our daily national corporate news media, including Fox News, the NY Post, the Wall St Journal and - along with two other Fox News investment funds - controls the largest share of ABC News stock.
For decades now, in English-speaking nations around the world, the propagandists posing as journalists who work for Murdoch, appear to distort the news so that Murdoch's favored politicans will get elected. Once elected, those pols seem to grant Murdoch huge tax breaks, regulatory changes and legislative favors in exchange for his propagandistic support of their candidacies.
The cost to us, the American people [the British and Australians as well] is that many critical issues are never properly addressed by the government officials selected by Murdoch, because his favored pols are generally chosen and supported based on what they will do for the totally self-serving billionaire - not the public. Hence Murdoch pols don't appear to reflect the people's will, but rather are chosen because Murdoch mass media outlets have manipulated the views of enough voters via their distorted daily Murdoch mass media 'news' intake, to enable Murdoch's favored pols to get elected. Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels employed these same kind of tactics, on an unsuspecting public, back in the early 1930's, in Germany.
At right is a graphic showing one of Murdoch's mini-Goebbels, pushing a false narrative that is designed to enrich himself and his billionaire boss by demonizing Democrats. The goal seems to use these issues promote false narratives that favor their pliant pols into powerful positions in government so that they can change policies to pump up the billionaire's propaganda profits. One such example is that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis gave ABC / Disney a half billion dollar tax break last summer and thereafter he appeared to have an open mic on Fox News with propagandists like the Tucker shown above.
To Rein in Guns & Violent Crime, We Must First Rein in Murdoch's Fox, WSJ, NY Post & Increasingly ABC News Distortions & Disinformation on the Subject
Reining in the guns used in violent crime in NYC, is one of many such issues that seem to be given Murdoch's special brand of propagandistic 'news' treatment. Murdoch's news outlets' reports appear to pander to gun owners and the NRA [5.5 million members], who are outspoken and generally against gun control. According to a November 13, 2020 report by Gallup, about 32% of Americans own a gun and about 44% live in a household where there is a gun owner. Hence, gun owners represent a fairly sizeable block of Murdoch's mass media audience, and his news reports pander to them, just as the pander to other voting blocks that Murdoch media seek to manipulate.
At right is a map showing which states have the highest homicide rates. Note that the states with the highest homicide mortality rates are governed by the Republicans - the ones who claim they stand for law and order. But what many of the Republicans in these states really seem to stand for, are the special interest groups like the gun-promoting NRA. Urban police forces, which are generally found in Democratically governed cities, are finding that the guns used in the murders in their cities, are coming from the Republican states. Republican governed states have the nation's highest murder rates [see graph above] and most lax guns laws. I don't think it is helpful to policize this issue by demonizing the other side, but given Rupert Murdoch's grip on our national discourse through his ownership, control and influence over half of our daily national corporate media, somebody has got to push back with the truth.
The TV newspeople appear to hype weather systems, to keep viewers inside all weekend, so they'll watch TV, and boost the corporate TV ratings to generate more revenue.
You can see an example of this in the graphic at right which shows a June 13, 2019 Washington Post report where a weatherman was fired by Sinclair Broadcasting, at a Murdoch ABC News station affiliate, because the weatherman wasn't going to use 'Code Red' to hype inclement weather systems, if he didn't think they merited such labeling.
This weekend the weather system coming in this evening is expected to end by about 3 pm Saturday, so while there may be an unknown number of inches of snow on the ground in NYC in January [what a concept], it shouldn't prevent New Yorkers from enjoying at least part of the weekend. But that said, be advised that while the snow should end by 3 pm, the winds die down more slowly, lasting the remainder of Saturday. And these comments apply to activities within NYC [not Long Island nor New Jersey] as public transit may be used in lieu of an auto, and as of this report, the MTA has no plans of shutting down.
The weatherman mentioned in the graphic above, was fired for not distorting the truth, in a manner not unlike what one would expect at a state-controlled media outlet in Russia or China. Hyping weather systems out of proportion, like distorting the proportions of other stories, appears to be one of the Murdoch mass media trademark ploys to deceive / fear monger the viewers in order to win higher rating$$$, take control the national conversation and tip the scales in favor of the pols he favors and against those he does not.
Rupert Murdoch is an Australian born billionaire press lord who controls about half of America's daily national news media including Fox News, the NY Post, the Wall St. Journal and increasingly ABC News where he and two funds control about a quarter of that company's shares.
While Weather Sensationalism is Dishonest Truth Distortion, it's Relatively Harmless vis a vis Most Other News Distortions which can be Dangerous to Democracy
In Australia - where Murdoch has been operating all his life - former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd described, "Murdoch's media empire as a cancer on democracy" because of Murdoch media news omissions and distortions.
And in Britain, a Spring 2012 Parliamentary Report stated that, [Murdoch] "was not a fit person" to exercise stewardship of a major international company] because his company broke the law by tapping British citizens' private phones to get racy stories and the details of their personal tragedies in order to generate higher ratings and sell more newspapers. Murdoch denied he knew anything, blamed his underlings and then reportedly Murdoch's [Fox] Newscorp spent $1.6 BILLION in legal fees and payouts -TO DEFEND THEIR INNOCENCE?
In the graphic at right is a July 28, 2011 Guardian report stating that people working for Murdoch's company were believed to have hacked the phone of Sara Payne to publish her anguish over her daughter's murder at the hands of a pedophile. Murdoch reportedly spent $1.6 billion in settlements and legal fees to extricate the company and its officers from the corruption and scandal. But money can't buy Murdoch out of what Newscorp's actions say about his and his companies' moral compass.
Wintry Weekend with Snow ending at 3 pm Saturday, Boat Show at Javits, Bumper Cars & Irish Theater in Manhattan, Winter Antiques Show POSTPONED, Chinese New Year Celebration & Film in Queens, on Staten Island a Maple Syrup program While the Korean Lunar New Year Celebration at Snug Harbor POSTPONED, Bronx Zoo Closed Saturday, while Bronx Doc Film Opens 'Storming of the Capitol' Photo Exhibit and Art & BAM Films in Brooklyn
NYC Weather. They forecast up to 4 - 5 inches of snow Friday afternoon / evening, but it could be on the low side if the temperature doesn't drop. On Saturday, another 3 - 5 inches of snow is expected, ending by 3 pm / mid afternoon. Temperature highs will be in the mid 30's on Friday, descending to the low to mid 20's for Saturday and Sunday. Temperature lows will be in the high teens Friday, descending to the low teens for the rest of the weekend. Humidity will range from 50% to 70% all weekend. Winds start at 7 mph on Friday, but by the end of the day will be a blustery 20 mph. On Saturday the winds will be 20 - 25 mph, before dropping back to 5 to 10 mph on Sunday.
The photo at right was taken underneath the #5 Prospect Avenue subway stop at in the Longwood neighborhood of the Bronx earlier this week. The subway stop is near Bill Rainey Park and where the explosion and row house fire took place on Tuesday, January 18, 2022. We'll have more on the fire and explosion next week.
Things To Do This Weekend in Manhattan
The NY Boat Show started on Wednesday and runs through Sunday, January 30, 2022 at the Javits Center at 655 West 34th Street [at 11th Avenue]. They're open 12 noon - 8 pm Friday, 10 am - 8 pm Saturday and 12 noon - 6 pm on Sunday. Tickets are $18 / $15 and CoVid protocols remain in effect.
You can rent a Bumper Car in Bryant Park between the hours of 2 - 8 pm weekdays and 11 am - 5 pm Saturdays and Sundays between now and February 2nd. It's recommended that you rsvp on their website at www.bryantpark.org where tickets for a ten minute ride are $20.
In the photo at right you can see the bumper cars at Bryant Park in action.
The First Irish Theater Festival by the Origin Theater Company continues through January 31st. The shows are held at various venues in several boroughs of NYC. See www.origintheater.org for details and tickets.
The Winter Antiques Show held at the Park Avenue Armory has been postponed until the Spring. They haven't set a new date, but that it's postpone, not cancelled, like professional sports games, shows that we're learning to live with CoVid, by adapting to its mutations and the surges. Unfortunately, as long as a sizeable segment continues to aid and abet the virus by not getting vaccinated, we're stuck in this holding pattern indefinitely. Thank God these anti-vax ignoramuses, fueled by Murdoch's Fox News disinformation, weren't around in the 1950's when the nation was fighting polio.
Did You Hear the One about a Staten Island Ferry, Two Comedians, an Architect & a Night Club Owner?
Updated January 26 from 1/24/2022 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC News / Staten Buzz NYC.
Weather. The temperature highs will be within about 5 degrees of 30 throughout the week, except on Tuesday when it will be in the low 40's. The temperature lows will be between 20 and 30 degrees, except on Wednesday, when it will drop to 12 degrees. The winds will be 5 - 10 mph Monday & Tuesday, rising to 10 - 15 mph on Wednesday, before falling back to 5 - 10 mph Thursday & Friday. Humidity will be 50% - 70% on Monday, dropping to 50% - 60% on Tuesday, and then 40% - 50% on Wednesday & Thursday, before rising back to 50% - 70% on Friday. No precipitation is in the forecast until Friday afternoon / evening at which time it looks like we're going to get several or more inches of snow.
As the new year begins to unfold, we encounter a mixed bag of news that has already made it out onto the public stage. Let's start with the purchase of a de-commissioned Staten Island Ferry, the JFK. The photo above right was taken in January 2020, likely near the end of the JFK's life of ferrying passengers to and from Staten Island. You can see the 'JFK' in the upper right corner of the photo below the black circle and with a bit of glare obfuscating part of the 'F'.
They may be Laughing Now, but ...
SNL Comedians Pete Davidson & Colin Jost, Architect Developer & Contractor Ron Castellano and Night Club Owner Paul Italia Buy the JFK Staten Island Ferry Boat
Last week, after several rounds of bidding, a consortium of investors, including SNL Comedians Pete Davidson & Colin Jost; Architect, Developer & Contractor Ron Castellano; and Night Club Owner Paul Italia purchased a 2,100 ton de-commissioned Staten Island ferry boat - the JFK - for $280,100. The purchase prices was only $100 above the next nearest bid, after the price doubled during the bidding process - up from $125,000 - after the starting bid had to be lowered from $250,000 because of a lack of early interest.
At right are Pete Davidson [left] and Colin Jost [right] announcing their new acquisition on SNL's News update. This project is likely to get a fair amount of publicity given the fame of these two owners and Jost's famous wife and Davidson's famous girlfriend.
De Blasio Decides Not to Run for NYS Governor, Hochul's Fundraising Haul, NYC Violent Crime Up Slightly in 2021, but NYC Homicides Still Below the National Average & To Be or Not To Be - do we want to Politicize the Guns / Violent Crime Problem or Solve it?
This morning, January 18, 2022, former NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that he will not seek the Governor's office on Twitter.
De Blasio mentioned some of his accomplishments during his eight years as Mayor including Universal Pre-K, building hundreds of thousands affordable housing units, implementing some police reforms at the NYPD to make policing fairer, and efforts to transition NYC to cleaner energy. He didn't say what his future plans were, only that he would be announcing them from his neighborhood in Brooklyn.
Governor Kathy Hochul is well positioned for the NYS Governors race this year. Hochul received the very early endorsement of the NYS Democratic Party Chairman Jay Jacobs in October of 2021, and has raised $21.6 million since she announced her candidacy in August of 2021. It's a record for the five month period, and about the same amount of money that former Governor Andrew Cuomo had to ward off challengers in 2018. NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and 3rd District [Nassau County] Congressman Thomas Suozzi have announced their candidacies. In December of 2021, Attorney General Letitia James withdrew her candidacy, in favor of running for reelection in her current post.
On the Republican side of the race there's former Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, who is running against newcomer Andrew Giuliani, who's primary claim to fame is that he is the son of Rudy, the former NYC Mayor with the same surname and Lee Zeldin, a Congressman from Long Island.
In fundraising as well as in polling, Hochul seems to have all the advantages at this point in the campaign. Her nearest competitor in polling recently done by Siena would have been de Blasio, who had 12% of the vote versus Hochul's 46%. NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams was next with 11% and Suozzi with 6%. The Suozzi campaign has about $5 million in campaign funding, $2 million of which was transferred from his congressional campaign. Republican Astorino has about $1.3 million, and none of the other contestants released their funding.
A number of snide comments were made in the wake of Hochul's record haul and competitive fundraising position for the upcoming June primary. She was compared to Cuomo with allusions to the possibility of corruption, but nothing specific was provided to support those insinuations.
De Blasio's announcement came as I was working on an update report on NYC crime. Unfortunately, the NYPD doesn't publish a December monthly report, like they do every other month, so it's more challenging to do a year end tally. Hence, this report won't be as comprehensive as some of the others I've done the past couple of years, and will instead focus mostly on shootings and the murder rate.
NYC Crime Statistics for 2021
Thefts Down Significantly / Murders Up Slightly & Still Below the National Average / Most Other Crimes up in Low to Mid Single Digits with Some Exceptions ...
The outlier in the year end crime stats, which were up slightly from 2020, was that thefts were down almost 19%. This may have something to do with the fact that fewer people are out and about, so thieves have fewer to prey upon and the victims have fewer distractions and events where thefts may occur.
As for other salient changes in the main categories, Grand Larceny was up about 12% while Grand Larceny Auto was up 14%, Other (than rape) Sex Crimes were up 30%, Misdemeanour Assault was up 10%, and Hate Crimes were up 93%. It's worth noting that only murders and hate crimes are counted in the hundreds - not thousands.
The murders in NYC were up slightly in 2021 versus 2020. Note that the graph at right is for the entire nation and in 2020 - not 2021. The purpose is so that you can have context in evaluating where we are and what's going on.
In 2021 the preliminary murder rate in the U.S. was about 6.6 per 100,000 people [21,750 / 330M], while the murder rate in NYC was 5.5 per 100,000 people [485 / 8.8M]. Prior to the pandemic, in 2018, the murder rate in the U.S. was 4.96 per 100,000 people [WorldPopulationReview.com], and the murder rate in NYC was 289 victims [8.4M population] or 3.4 per 100,000 people, which was the lowest on record. In 2012, during former Mayor Bloomberg's last year as NYC Mayor, the murder rate had fallen to 414 [8.2M] or about 5.0 per 100,000 people.
So with our larger population [8.8M vs 8.2M], NYC experienced a bit higher murder rate in former Mayor de Blasio's last year in office, versus former Mayor Bloomberg's last year in office. And for de Blasio this was in the midst of the pandemic amid record gun sales.
Weather. The MLK Weekend forecast as of January 10, 2022. The Temperature highs will range from 20 to 30 degrees through the long weekend. The temperature lows will range from 10 to 25, rising as the weekend progresses. As of this post, no precipitation is expected over the MLK Day Weekend. Winds will be about 10 mph throughout the long weekend, except Friday when they'll be a bit higher [13 mph]. The Humidity will be between 30% - 60%, dipping on Saturday from the highs on Friday and Monday. Click for Staten Island Weather.
Brief History of Martin Luther King Holiday in NYC
Martin Luther King, Jr. was a Baptist Minister who became the leading voice for African Americans' non-violent civil rights movement beginning in the mid 1950's through to his assassination in 1968. In 1983, the third Monday of every year was set aside to honor Martin Luther King for his service to the nation. The third Monday was chosen, as it was the nearest Monday to the anniversary of King's birthday, which was January 15, 1929.
Martin Luther King Day has grown to take on an even larger meaning, as it is oftentimes referred to as a day on, versus a day off. Organizations around the city and nation have used the day to call people into action to address the needs of the community through volunteering and service.
Martin Luther King Holiday Special Events in the Staten Island NYC
There's an MLK Day of Service on Sunday, January 16, 2022 at the Greenbelt Nature Center at 700 Rockland Avenue from 9 am - 3 pm on Staten Island. Participants will have an opportunity to work with the NYC Parks Department to improve the quality of public green space by making them cleaner, greener and healthier. This program focuses on trail design and maintenance. Rsvp at www.eventbrite.com. Free.
And at Historic Richmond Town, while these are not MLK specific, there are candle making workshops in the late morning / afternoon [11 am / 12.30 pm / 2 pm] and a concert in the evening [6 - 9 pm].
The Great Supply Chain Crisis 2021: Hype vs Reality
TV & Murdoch News Sensationalized the Great Supply Chain Crisis of 2021 - Telling us for Months on End No Pumpkins for Halloween, No Turkeys for Thanksgiving, No Trees for Christmas & No Cream Cheese in NYC
But How Much of that Hyping was a Murdoch Inspired Perspective in Pursuit of Political Profit & Fear Mongering Ratings at the Expense of Reporting What's Really Happening?
The closer I pay attention to what's happening in our mass media, the more concerned I get. Nearly half of our daily nationally branded news media is controlled by one man, Australian born billionaire Rupert Murdoch - who strikes me as either a sociopath or psychopath. Based on the seven years I've been covering Murdoch, it appears as if he doesn't care about anything other than enriching and empowering himself, even at 90 years of age [his mother lived to 103 so he's likely going to be with us for a while].
What Those Who Know Murdoch Say About Him
In Australia - where Murdoch has been operating all his life - former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd described,
"Murdoch's media empire as a cancer on democracy".
And in Britain, a Parliamentary Report stated that,
[Murdoch] "was not a fit person" to exercise stewardship of a major international company].
Keith Rupert Murdoch, controls the Wall St. Journal, Fox News, the NY Post, Harper Collins Publishing, MarketWatch, Barrons - and along with two of Fox News largest shareholders - Murdoch appears to have a controlling interest in Disney / ABC by virtue of what seems his proximity to their relatively new CEO. Murdoch's influence appears to be manifesting itself in personnel moves being made since he became one of their largest shareholders in March of 2019. The personnel moves are in their news and related programming areas, and ultimately impact what ABC News presents to the public. I just witnessed one of many subtle changes on Sunday, while watching This Week with George Stephanopolous. I'll say more about this at the end of this report.
Fox News Lyin' Laura Ingraham, earned that moniker, as you can see in the image above. Fox News has repeatedly used misleading photos and images to lend deceptive and misleading support to their news accounts, which appear designed to influence the unaware and low information voters, in order to get them to vote for billionaire Murdoch's favored pols and against the very government officials who are trying to help the manipulated victims.
For all of us, today starts the beginning of a new year.
If we stay the course with vaccinations, masks, social distancing and hand washing, we should be able to make the transition from pandemic to endemic - at which point things begin to really change to a better normal, but likely not back to a pre-CoVid normal.
A year ago I thought by now we would have mostly normalized, but I had failed to take into consideration the significant resistance to vaccinations by the people who rely upon Rupert Murdoch's overwhelming share of nationally branded daily mass media 'news'.
Rupert Murdoch controls Fox News, the NY Post, the Wall St Journal and he, along with the two largest investment groups owning Fox, control Disney / ABC News. So that's half of U.S. network news and two the largest daily newspapers in the nation. He controls other media outlets as well, like MarketWatch and Barron's and Harper Collins Publishing, but the first four mentioned above are instrumental in shaping Americans' view of things. And the unsuspecting members of Murdoch's audience aren't aware enough, nor paying attention enough, nor educated enough to detect the very sophisticated news manipulations that Murdoch and his minions seem to do every day to sculpt and present the reality they want their viewers to see - which is not reality at all, but a VoldeMurdoch version of it.
Other media outlets and moderate Republicans and pretty much all Democrats need to start calling Murdoch out into the public space so people can see who he is and what he does and what he takes in exchange for it. They need to do it, because regardless of whether they do or not, Murdoch's incessant media attacks will keep coming, so by not addressing him and it, they are only aiding and abetting it, like all those who let Goebbels do the same in Germany in the 1920's, 1930's and 1940's.
The rest of this report is about some of the things you can do personally - not politically - to make 2022 a better year for you.
NYC News Update With as little CoVid Omicron Specific Info as Possible
This Report includes the Over Hyped 'Supply Chain Xmas Tree Shortage', Broadway Show Cancellations & Postponements & Economic Impact, MTA Subway Trains & Airline Flights Cancellations due to Staffing Outages, the Tug of War between Office Workers & their Companies, JFK getting New Terminals & Staten Island getting New Ferries
Weather. Temperature highs are between 40 and 50 degrees each day, and the lows are about 40 each day. Humidity will be between 60% - 80% all week. And the wind will be fairly steady at 5 - 10 mph daily. There's a chance of showers around 8 pm tonight and a chance of a tenth inch of rain on each day - Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Given the low amount of precipitation and that it's spread out over the entire day, each day, I'd say your chances of getting very wet are pretty slim.
CoVid, CoVid, CoVid ... How We Moved Beyond it as a Conversation Centerpiece at an Xmas Party
So I attended a Christmas party a couple of weekends ago, and at one point someone asked is there anything else to talk about besides CoVid? This was near the end of the party, so there were only about a dozen of us there. So, someone asked, how about those Nets? And of course, Kylie Irving soon came up, and his anti-vax stance on CoVid, and that the Nets had to postpone a number of games because of ... CoVid.
Someone else asked, whose traveling for the holidays? As you can imagine, it wasn't long before CoVid came up and how it was going to affect everyones' holiday travel plans. Another asked, whether people were going to see their kids over the holidays. And of course, the discussion about vaccinations, testing and masks ensued. And then someone asked about gifts being given this season, and eventually the impact of CoVid on shipping and supply chain ensued. How about going out to dinner ... and so forth.
Actually, it turned out to be kind of funny, in an ironic sort of way, as the pandemic was still touching most parts of people's lives.
But the good news is that we eventually did move on past CoVid. Onto what? Well that's personal and thus not going to be shared here publicly, but we did eventually make it past the CoVid goal line ... but it wasn't as easy as one would think it should have been.
So the rest of this report is going to be about other things affecting our life, but recognizing that the pandemic and our community health affects just about everything else.
How Real was the TV News Hyped Supply Chain & Xmas Tree Shortage?
Retail Sales Hit a Level Not seen in 17 Years in Spite of "No Supply"?
How is it that network TV news, still a primary source of information in this nation - and the only source by many of the uneducated - can get a story so wrong?
For months they've been hyping the SUPPLY CHAIN SHORTAGE, SUPPLY CHAIN SHORTAGE, SUPPLY CHAIN SHORTAGE. I've seen little on TV news saying anything else to the contrary, and yet somehow, retailers magically had the best holiday sales season in 17 years, with department store sales up 21% [that's huge] and online sales up 8% [also very solid performance].
Did retailers MAGICALLY turn in their best performance in 17 years without any inventory? Come on.
People need to start questioning the information they get on TV, because too often, it's so distorted in order to generate an emotional or fearful response that's good for ratings and profit - but not in the public interest.
A December 26, 2021 report in Politico provided the following update on retail sales,
"... By category, clothing rose 47%, jewelry 32%, electronics 16%. Online sales were up 11% from a year ago and 61% from 2019. Department stores registered a 21% increase over 2020 ..."
NYS Hit its Highest Number of New Cases Friday 12.17.21, Omicron Now Dominant Strain in America [73%], Breakthrough Infections & Need for Boosters, Multiple Measures of Vaccine Effectiveness, NYS Governor Hochul Foreshadows Change to Definition of Fully Vaccinated Likely Coming Soon, NYC Mayor de Blasio Offers $100 to those who Boost Before Year End, False Positives Coming from Some Testing Kits, Hospitalizations Trending Toward Younger Age Groups & Kids Getting Infected at Higher Rates
It's Not the Omicron Virus that is Dividing Us. It's the Manipulative Murdoch Mass Media, that Continually Misinforms its Audiences. The Highly Paid Propagandists do This in Order Enrich Themselves & Empower the 90 Year Old Multi-Billionaire by Undermining the Government Officials who Won't Give Rupert what he wants out of the Public Purse & Domain
So the Omicron variant represents the third wave of Corona Virus sweeping the land. First it was the original CoVid 19, then the Delta variant and now Omicron.
The Omicon variant spreads far more easily and hence far faster than the prior two variants, which spread around the globe in a matter of months. Omicron is beating them hands down in terms of spreading, even in nations that have some good measure of vaccinations - but nowhere near the two thirds plus needed for 'herd immunity'. Reportedly, the Omicron is spreading 2x to 4x faster than the Delta variant which reportedly spread faster [by about 50%] than the original strain of CoVid. As of the last week of testing, Omicron represents 73% of all new cases in the U.S.
In the graphic at right you see a headline from FT, which is the Financial Times of London, noting how something that should be common sense has become a political hot potato. At the end of this update on the Omicron variant, we'll take a look at how science and the truth are being distorted by millionaires and billionaire(s) in what appears an attempt to manipulate voters perceptions. The goal is to change the perceptions of their viewers enough, so their viewers will vote for the candidates chosen by the propaganda billionaire and his friends. The end game is, of course, getting the billionaire / propaganda machine selected pols into office, so they can fill their pockets with the taxpayers' money, and obtain legislative changes that are anti-democratic.
Oftentimes reports like that found in the Financial Times fail miserably to call out media mogul Rupert Murdoch, who controls an overwhelming share of the daily national news media in the U.S., Britain and Australia. For my money, Murdoch [not Trump] is the root cause of so many of our current problems by virtue of the disinformation he spreads, which is inserted into many of the news reports that his organizations deliver to well over a hundred million people each day. Murdoch hides behind his media brands, propagandists and favored pols, while the other media and government officials seem either: 1) ignorant of his incredible influence on our daily news, and thus a huge swath of American people's views, or 2) are unwilling to do the right thing and call Murdoch out into the open so the public can get a closer look at who's dominating the national conversation.
The last point made is an important one for the Smartmatic and Dominion Voting Systems lawsuits [more on this below]. My advice to their attorneys, is to hire a great public relations firm to publicize the hell out of each case, making damned sure to include Keith Rupert Murdoch in EVERY news release / update as the slithery Murdoch - like Voldemort in Harry Potter - doesn't like the light of day. And then ride the case to the end, because you're in the right, and what you're fighting for is - in part - the heart and soul of America.
NYS Sees its Highest Number of Daily New CoVid Cases Since Pandemic Began
In NYC New Infections Double in 3 Days & in the U.S. Omicron is now 73% of New Cases
A testament to the Omicron variants transmissibility is that on Friday, December 17, 2021 NYS saw its highest number of new CoVid cases [21,027] in a single day since the pandemic began according to an New York Times report. In NYC the infection rate nearly doubled in just three days, rising from 3.9% to 7.8% from Thursday, December 9 to December 12, 2021 according to a December 16, 2021 NBC report.
I checked the NYC website a couple of weeks ago and found the chart at right, which - to my surprise - showed Whites as the second slowest group to vaccinate. Hispanics were a full ten percentage points ahead of them, and African Americans were only three percentage points behind them. I interpret this as the power of Murdoch's media in NYC as he owns / controls Fox News on WNYW [channel 5], WWOR [channel 9], the NY Post, and the Wall Street Journal.
This section contains our Weekend Things To Do reports for the second half of the month of December 2021. Click into this link to see second half of December 2021 weekend reports.
December 6, 2021 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Social Issues Health News / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz NYC.
The first Omicron virus case was first detected on November 8, 2021 in South Africa. The first case detected in the U.S. was in San Francisco on November 22, 2021. Four days later, on November 26, 2021, the World Health Organization [WHO] designated Omicron a CoVid variant [B1.1.529]. As of December 5, 2021 there were eight Omicron cases in NYS, most of which were found in NYC.
Early Precautions in the Face of Omicron’s Rapid Spread
On November 26, 2021, President Biden instituted a temporary travel ban on South Africa and neighboring countries including, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe. He also shortened the CoVid testing time from three to one days, for those traveling internationally. The passenger must test negative for CoVid. And he extended the mask mandate for those using public transit domestically to March 15, 2021.
The reason for taking these early immediate precautions is that the Omicron variant appears to be spreading at twice the rate of the Delta variant, which overwhelmed this nation within about 3 - 4 months [May - August 2021].
The Omicron variant was also detected in Belgium, Hong Kong, Canada, Australia and Israel at the time the news broke regarding the rapid spread of the new variant at the beginning of the Thanksgiving holiday. As of this writing the Omicron variant has been found in 15 states including, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin, according to a Reuters tally on December 5, 2021.
Vaccine Efficacy vis a vis Omicron Variant
The Omicron variant is known to be more transmissible, but it’s health impact is still being studied. Most of those who contracted the Omicron variant had been vaccinated, and hence it is believed that most suffered fairly mild symptoms because they had CoVid antibodies in their systems. By the end of this week [12/10/21] or sometime the following week, early test results on vaccine efficacy vis a vis Omicron are expected.
One health official noted that efficacy isn’t measured as a simple yes or no, but rather in degrees. The strongest efficacy prevents one from catching the virus, the medium measure of efficacy is how troublesome the symptoms - ranging from mild to hospitalization, and the weakest efficacy – meaning no efficacy is death.
CoVid prognosticators believe that the current vaccines will continue to offer some measure of protection / efficacy, but they caution that at some point it may be necessary to create a separate vaccine for new CoVid variants.
Moderate Democrat Eric Adams sailed to victory Tuesday to become NYC's second African American Mayor. Democrat David Dinkins was the first. With 78% of the precincts reporting Adams won 676,481 votes to Sliwa's 293,127.
Democrat Jumaane Williams was re-elected Public Advocate, garnering 598,810 votes which was nearly 69% of the total, with 93% of the scanners reporting.
Progressive Democrat Brad Lander won the NYC Comptroller position, winning 604,000 of the votes, or 70% of the vote with 93% of the scanners counted.
And Democrat Alvin Bragg won the Manhattan District Attorney office, garnering 183,000 votes or 83% of the total.
Four of the five Borough Presidencies were won by Democrats. In Manhattan Mark Levine handily won the borough presidency with 181,000 votes or 85% of the total, with 93% of scanners counted. In Queens Donovan Richards handily won re-election, winning 160,000 votes or 66% of the total, with 79% of the precincts reporting. In Brooklyn Antonio Reynoso also won handily, winning 217,000 votes or 73% of the total, with 78% of the precincts reporting. In the Bronx Vanessa Gibson took in 80,000 votes which was 80% of the total, with 72% of the precincts reporting.
And on Staten Island, the only Republican to win a Borough Presidency, Vito Fossella, won 60,000 votes or 60% of the total, with 87% of the precincts reporting.
Things To Do on Staten Island Over The Columbus Day Weekend
October 5, 2021 / Things To Do NYC / Staten Buzz NYC.
More Columbus Day events coming on the Friday of this weekend.
Also see updated Weather by clicking the header above to go to the Front Page for Weekend Update.
This weekend you can go bicycling on Staten Island, play soccer & other games in Staten Island parks, go shopping on Staten Island, attend Staten Island parades, watch theater, visit the Staten Island art museums, and eat out at one of the Staten Island restaurants.
And it's all happening right here in Staten Island. So take your time to sort through the days and locations and start planning your weekend.
Weather. As of October 4, 2021, the Temperature highs will be in the 70's all four days of the long weekend. The temperature lows will be in the low 60's throughout the weekend. There's a 35% chance of a small amount of rain [2/10th's of an inch] between Saturday evening 5 pm and Sunday evening 6 pm. Winds will be about 5 - 10 mph Friday and Monday and between 10 - 15 mph on Saturday and Sunday. The Humidity will be between 65 - 75% on Friday & Saturday, and 70 - 80% on Sunday and Monday. Click for
Columbus Day Events on Staten Island
Click here to obtain information about things to do Columbus Day Weekend on Staten Island. This events calendar is updated monthly with dozens of different Staten Island fun cultural events.
CULTURE FEST WEEKEND. - WORK IN PROGRESS SHOULD BE DONE TUESDAY 10/5/21.
Staten Island Public & Private Parks & Public Indoor Swimming Pools
Staten Island has one of number of public parks of which a few include swimming facilities. Click here for a listing of the Staten Island Parks including maps showing their locations along with a bit of park history. This is coming at a later date.
Effective September 30, 2021 NYC public indoor swimming pools will reopen at 33% capacity and CoVid guidelines will remain in effect.
NYC Golfing on Staten Island
Staten Island has four golf courses and all of them are open this weekend. The Silver Lake Golf Course is located at 915 Victory Blvd in the northeastern section of Staten Island near the Silver Lake neighborhood. It's only short bus ride from the Staten Island Ferry Terminal in St. George. The La Tourette Golf Course is located at 1001 Richmond Hill Road near Historic Richmond Town and Lighthouse Hill neighborhoods in the center of Staten Island. The South Shore Golf Course is located at 200 Hugenot Road in the southwestern part of Staten Island in the Rossville neighborhood. It is home to the Grand Oaks Country Club. And the NYC Junior Golf Club is located at 66 Pitney Road at the southern end of Staten Island in the Woodrow neighborhood. Click here for details about Staten Island golf courses including maps and links to the operators' websites. The links are coming at a later date.
Things To Do on Staten Island Over The Labor Day Weekend
August 17, 2021 / Things To Do NYC / Staten Buzz.
Come back to visit our front page on the Friday before the Labor Day weekend for an up-to-date weather forecast, as well as Labor Day Weekend events updates.
This weekend you can go bicycling on Staten Island, play soccer & other games in Staten Island parks, go shopping on Staten Island, attend Staten Island parades, watch theater, visit the Staten Island art museums, and eat out at one of the Staten Island restaurants.
And it's all happening right here in our favorite borough - Staten Island. So take your time to sort through the days and locations and start planning your weekend.
Labor Day Events on Staten Island
Click here to obtain information about things to do Labor Day Weekend on Staten Island. This events calendar is updated monthly with dozens of different Staten Island fun cultural events.
Staten Island Public & Private Parks
Staten Island has one of number of public parks of which a few include swimming facilities. Click here for a listing of the Staten Island Parks including maps showing their locations along with a bit of park history. This is coming at a later date.
NYC Golfing on Staten Island
Staten Island has four golf courses and all of them are open this weekend. The Silver Lake Golf Course is located at 915 Victory Blvd in the northeastern section of Staten Island near the Silver Lake neighborhood. It's only short bus ride from the Staten Island Ferry Terminal in St. George. The La Tourette Golf Course is located at 1001 Richmond Hill Road near Historic Richmond Town and Lighthouse Hill neighborhoods in the center of Staten Island. The South Shore Golf Course is located at 200 Hugenot Road in the southwestern part of Staten Island in the Rossville neighborhood. It is home to the Grand Oaks Country Club. And the NYC Junior Golf Club is located at 66 Pitney Road at the southern end of Staten Island in the Woodrow neighborhood. Click here for details about Staten Island golf courses including maps and links to the operators' websites. The links are coming at a later date.
Weather. The MLK Weekend forecast as of January 10, 2022. The Temperature highs will range from 20 to 30 degrees through the long weekend. The temperature lows will range from 10 to 25, rising as the weekend progresses. As of this post, no precipitation is expected over the MLK Day Weekend. Winds will be about 10 mph throughout the long weekend, except Friday when they'll be a bit higher [13 mph]. The Humidity will be between 30% - 60%, dipping on Saturday from the highs on Friday and Monday. Click for Staten Island Weather.
Brief History of Martin Luther King Holiday in NYC
Martin Luther King, Jr. was a Baptist Minister who became the leading voice for African Americans' non-violent civil rights movement beginning in the mid 1950's through to his assassination in 1968. In 1983, the third Monday of every year was set aside to honor Martin Luther King for his service to the nation. The third Monday was chosen, as it was the nearest Monday to the anniversary of King's birthday, which was January 15, 1929.
Martin Luther King Day has grown to take on an even larger meaning, as it is oftentimes referred to as a day on, versus a day off. Organizations around the city and nation have used the day to call people into action to address the needs of the community through volunteering and service.
Martin Luther King Holiday Special Events in the Staten Island NYC
There's an MLK Day of Service on Sunday, January 16, 2022 at the Greenbelt Nature Center at 700 Rockland Avenue from 9 am - 3 pm on Staten Island. Participants will have an opportunity to work with the NYC Parks Department to improve the quality of public green space by making them cleaner, greener and healthier. This program focuses on trail design and maintenance. Rsvp at www.eventbrite.com. Free.
And at Historic Richmond Town, while these are not MLK specific, there are candle making workshops in the late morning / afternoon [11 am / 12.30 pm / 2 pm] and a concert in the evening [6 - 9 pm].
The Italian Festival at Mount Loretto included Food, Shopping, Live Entertainment & Games
October 21, 2019 / Staten Island Neighborhoods / Staten Island Things To Do / Staten Buzz NYC.
Just over a week ago, I headed to the southern Staten Island neighborhood of Charleston to attend the Italian Festival at Mount Loretto. The event ran all weekend in a large sprawling field in front of the cathedral. There was a large stage, live entertainment, a number of food vendors, many serving hot food out of food trucks, somewhere between a half doze and dozen different shopping boutiques offering clothing, cutlery, skin products, jewelry and more.
HALLOWEEN PARTIES
Article 1467
Staten Island Halloween Parties & Events 2021 - SI NYC
Halloween Events & Halloween Parties in the North Shore Neighborhoods, the Great Kills area, Historic Richmond Town and Other Neighborhoods on Staten Island
Halloween occurs on a Sunday this year. The Staten Island Halloween party celebrations begin as early as Saturday, October 23rd running through to Halloween day itself.
Halloween is one big costume party, where the theatrical side of people, is given a small opening. Halloween provides people the opportunity to create and play roles they have wanted to play, that the day-to-day role playing keeps submerged. On Halloween is it the Doctor side or the Jekyll side - or something in between that emerges? Any which way it can sometimes be very scary : )
In the photo at right are NYC Halloween partiers in an earlier year. While professional actors are paid to assume and perform roles, on Halloween it's an unpaid, all-amateur, theatrical free-for-all ... and the chaos of creativity is also what makes Halloween so much fun.
A few Staten Island farmers markets may be open year round, but most of them are seasonal. Some of the seasonal Staten Island farmers markets usually begin opening in May, with the rest of them opening in June or no later than the first couple of weeks in July. Click here to view the schedules of many of the farmers markets in Staten Island.
Staten Island street fairs and festivals, on the other hand, are entirely seasonal. Some of them hit the streets as early as April. The number of Staten Island street fairs rises during the late spring and continues through the dog days of summer [July / August], including into the late part of the Fall. By late October / the end of November the Staten Island street fairs go on hiatus, with a few returning as early as April. Click here to view a full schedule of the Staten Island street fairs.
FARM
Article 1451
Staten Island Farmers Markets 2022
Opening Dates, Hours, Items & How To Shop - Staten Island Farmers Markets SI
May 7, 2022 / Staten Island Neighborhoods / Food, Wine & Restaurants on Staten Island / Staten Island Shops & Shopping / Staten Buzz NYC.
This report contains the opening dates, times / hours, items / selection, as well as links to online maps of all major Staten Island farmer markets, including address locations on Staten Island.
The Staten Island farmers markets on this page are located in or around the Staten Island neighborhoods of St. George, Snug Harbor, West Brighton, Heartland Village, Fort Wadsworth, Manor Heights, Clifton, Mariners Harbor, Historic Richmond Town, South Beach, Tompkinsville, Westerleigh, Stapleton, Port Richmond and Tottenville.
Enjoy shopping and eating the fresh and natural foods and product of our local farmers and food manufacturers.
9th Annual Festa & Motori D'Italia Keeps the Engine Running on All Cylinders
September 23, 2019 / Silver Lake Neighborhood Staten Island / Things to do on Staten Island / Staten Buzz NYC.
I attended the Festa & Motori D'Italia at the Italian Cultural Foundation at Casa Belvedere on Staten Island. The following video captures most of what I experienced - save for the delicious aromas floating in the air.
Snug Harbor Fence Show on Staten Island
69th Annual Art Show Organized by the Staten Island Museum
October 1, 2019 / Randall Manor Neighborhood Staten Island / Things to do on Staten Island / Staten Buzz NYC.
I attended the 69th Annual Snug Harbor Fence Show on Staten Island on Saturday. The show included about 150 exhibiting artists, primarily from Staten Island, but also neighboring NYC boroughs and New Jersey. There were food and beverage vendors, an accomplished jazz group - the Musical Chairs Chamber Ensemble - as well as plenty of interesting artworks that ranged from ceramics, to clothing and jewelry, to all sorts of art on canvass and other materials. The crowd the show attracted was also an eclectic group of art lovers, art exhibitors and curious Staten Islanders [it's free admission]. See video to take in a couple of minutes of the ambiance of the show.
Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art on Staten Island
The Jacques Marchais Museum is Home to an Eclectic Art Collection
August 22, 2019 / Lighthouse Hill Neighborhood SI / Art & Culture Staten Island / Staten Buzz NYC.
A couple of weeks ago I visited the Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art. It's located in the Lighthouse Hill neighborhood on Staten Island, which isn't far from Historic Richmond Town. Historic Richmond Town is a popular destination that puts on a number of public programs, so it's easy to include the Jacques Marchais Musem as a second destination if you're interested in Tibetan culture and art.
Ironically Jacques Marchais never visited Tibet, but she was an avid art dealer / collector, and over time she developed a collection of Tibetan art and culture in her art dealings. So much so, that when I had an opportunity to visit, I was struck by the resemblance to the some of the architecture and feeling of being there, as it reminded me of a month long trek I had done in Nepal many years ago.
We'll have more on this interesting destination on Staten Island over time. Stay tuned. Om.
Last weekend I had an opportunity to visit South Beach along the FDR Boardwalk on Staten Island. The following video provides a one minute glimpse of the FDR Boardwalk and the views of the water and Verrazzano Bridge.
MOVIES
Article 1497
Staten Island - Free Summer Movies 2022
Free Things To Do on Staten Island - Free Summer Movies in NYC Parks
August 12, 2022 /Staten Island Neighborhoods / Staten Island Free Summer Outdoor Movies NYC / Staten Buzz NYC.
Summer is in full swing. A number of community groups in collaboration with the NYC Parks Department and frequently some measure of government funding, have put together a summer full of free summer movies in the parks. The free movie events listed below are designed for young and old alike and they're FREE.
We'll continue to add to this listing of free movies in the park on Staten Island as we become aware of them.
Staten Island - Free & a Few Paid Summer Concerts 2022
Free Things To Do on Staten Island NYC
August 12, 2022 / Staten Island Neighborhoods / Staten Island Free Summer Outdoor Concerts NYC / Staten Buzz NYC.
Editor's Note - Note that only ASTERISKED LOCATIONS have been updated. Pay attention to the concert dates / years. We will be updating / adding a few more concerts between now and the end of September. So check back periodically for updates which you can note by the date changing above.
Summer is in full swing. A number of community groups in collaboration with the NYC Parks Department and frequently some measure of government funding, have put together a summer full of films and free summer concerts in the parks. The free concerts listed below are designed for young and old alike and they're FREE.
Music / Concerts in the Park on Staten Island 2022
Free Things To Do in the Staten Island - Free Summer Theater Park in NYC
August 12, 2022 / Staten Island Neighborhoods / Staten Island Things To Do / Staten Buzz NYC.
Summer is in full swing. A number of community groups in collaboration with the NYC Parks Department and frequently some measure of government funding, have put together a summer full of free summer theater in the parks. The free theatre events listed below are designed for young and old alike and they're FREE.
Editor's Note - Note that only ASTERISKED LOCATIONS have been updated. Pay attention to the performance dates / years. We will be updating / adding this summer theater report between now and the end of September. So check back periodically for updates which you can note by the date changing above.
Free Theater / Plays in the Park on Staten Island 2022
This Staten Island Public Swimming Pool Report Includes Contact Info NYC
May 25, 2022 / Staten Island Neighborhoods / Staten Island Swimming Pools, Parks & Sports / Staten Buzz NYC.
Staten Island offers easy access to a wide range of recreational swimming pools. The following is an attempt to provide you with a view of the range of public swimming pools available in the parks of Staten Island. We encourage you to make use of these facilities because they provide healthy, fun, and frequently free or inexpensive entertainment for both individuals and families with children.
Staten Island outdoor public pools will open beginning Tuesday June 28th, 2022. A few of the indoor pools will be closed this summer to allow for construction and improvements.
Generally pool hours are from 11 am - 7 pm daily, with a one hour break between 3 and 4 pm for cleaning. Bring a padlock for your locker and proper swimming trunks are required [for boys this means not shorts as trunks must have liners]. Don't bring food, glass bottles, newspapers, electronics, floaters and no or as few valuables as you can bring to minimize your risk because the park isn't responsible for your losses. Free sunscreen will be made available while supplies last.
As of this posting 5.25.22, masks are NOT required for indoor activity including in the locker rooms, but stay tuned as it's possible that could change.
National Lighthouse Museum - A Staten Island Treasure
At the end of January I made my way across the NYC harbor to the St. George Ferry Terminal. After just a few blocks walk to the east, along the St. George / Staten Island waterfront, I came upon my destination - the National Lighthouse Museum.
The National Lighthouse Museum is one of the oldest and yet newest cultural treasures of Staten Island. While the National Lighthouse Museum only opened on Staten Island in 2015, it is housed in buildings of the old St. George Coast Guard Station, which was built shortly after the American Civil War in the late 1860's.
The photo at right is one of the slides shown by Bill Miller in his informative lecture about transatlantic travel during the 20th century. Most of the photos that follow were taken at the lecture.
Bill Miller's Ocean Liner History - An NYC Treasure
Tonight we would listen to Bill Miller tell the tales of a century long history of transatlantic luxury ships and cruises. Miller's love of the cruise ships started while he was a youngster, watching the ships docking along the west side of Manhattan from across the Hudson River in New Jersey.
Bill Miller is shown in the photo at right standing in front of the room at the National Lighthouse Museum on Staten Island.
It wasn't long before Miller was crossing the Hudson himself, looking for adventure along the west side piers. Tonight he shared his lifelong passion with us, complete with details delving into the lives of the rich and famous, the food, the designer interiors and the ship engineering of the transatlantic cruise ships, which he affectionately calls Floating Palaces.
The photo at right shows Linda Dianto, Executive Director of the National Lighthouse Museum [at left] and guest speaker Bill Miller, aka Mr. Ocean Liner [at right] in late January 2020 speaking to the audience in attendance at the Floating Palaces lecture at the Staten Island museum.
I had the opportunity to visit the Conference House in Tottenville this past September. Unfortunately I arrived about a week after the historic site signature event - the 1776 Peace Conference Commemoration.
The Conference House Peace Commemoration event includes a reenactment of the September 11, 1776 peace conference meeting between Benjamin Franklin and John Adams on the American side and Colonel Christoper Billop representing the British side.
The photo at right shows a painting depicting the Conference House Meeting on September 11, 1776.
Although Billop was born on Staten Island, he was a British colonel and loyalist to the British crown. Billop reportedly initiated the meeting, which as we all now know, was unsuccessful in averting the war. The commemorative event generally happens every second weekend in September.
I found it ironic, that the event took place on 9/11 some 243 years ago. And it's worth mentioning that William Franklin, Benjamin Franklin's illegitimate son, was the last British Governor of New Jersey and a British loyalist throughout the conflict. Benjamin Franklin reportedly acknowledged him as his son, but disowned him for not siding with the colonists.
Colonel Billop's father was Captain Billop [also named Christopher aka senior] who came to America in 1674. Billop Sr. built the Conference House, which was a grand home of the time, overlooking the point where the Raritan River flows into the Raritan Bay at Arthur Kill, which is the body of water that separates Staten Island from New Jersey. It was a well built stone house, which has held up well since it was built circa 1680, about 340 years ago. At the time it was considered a pretty fancy home.
Originally the site was a campground of the Lenape Indian tribe. In the late 1600's both the Dutch and the British were adventurous seafaring nations, which sent many ships, sailors and immigrants across the Atlantic in search of a better life. As such, when the ruling royalists were succeeded by heirs, their religion mixed with politics and also war.
Historic Richmond Town on Staten Island Preserves a Bit of America's Colonial & 19th Century Past
March 2018 / Historic Richmond Town Neighborhood / Staten Island Culture & History / Staten Buzz NYC.
Earlier this month I visited Historic Richmond Town on Staten Island. I got off the train at Oakwood Heights and along with a visiting South Korean visitor, ubered the half to one mile inland to visit historic Richmond Town.
We were dropped off in a large parking lot adjacent to the main building, which turned out to be the rear of the site, and walked in. It was less than two hours before closing time and on this cold March day, things were pretty quiet.
In the museum gift shop we Lou Maira who manages it. The visiting South Korean took off on his own, while I struck up a conversation with Lou. He told me that we were in the Court House, which was the County Seat for Staten Island in 1837. The Court House also served as the prison. He told me that this late in the day, on the off season, wasn't really the optimal time to see the place, but he accommodated my unscheduled inquisitiveness anyhow.
Historic Richmond Town on Staten Island lies on 100 Acres of Colonial & 19th Century History
Lou told me that there were 15 buildings in Historic Richmond Town. He informed me that tours are given regularly by knowledgeable guides and that they take about an hour and fifteen minutes. The whole town lies on about one hundred acres. At some point in the conversation, one of the tour guides whose name I apparently didn't write down [please send it to me if you read this], joined us, and we continued conversing about Historic Richmond Town. In the photo at right is one of the tour guides of Historic Richmond Town on Staten Island.
Guyon Tavern in Historic Richmond Town
One of the buildings is Guyon Tavern, which may be found about a block and a half away on Richmond Road. The Court House lies at the top of a small hill where Center Street and Court Place meet. Guyon Tavern hosts tavern nights in March and April, where a thirsty 19th century American could and still can get a bottle of ale.
Historic Richmond Town - Things To Do on Staten Island
Historic Richmond Town also hosts other events. In the May / June timeframe there's a program entitled On Court, which I was told is a fairly large festival that includes live entertainment, beer and wine and food. And in September there's a pretty huge festival, it's Historic Richmond Town's signature event, called the County Fair.
The houses in Historic Richmond Town range in dates from the 1600's, 1700's and into the 1800's. The houses built in the 1700's date back to the time of the American Revolutionary War.
I'll add more to this, including more photos, at a later date. But suffice it to say it's worth at least one visit and likely many more. You can find out more about it and their events at https://www.historicrichmondtown.org
The Past Comes Alive: Historic Richmond Town
Historic Richmond Town on Staten Island Preserves a Bit of America's Colonial & 19th Century Past
Earlier this month I visited Historic Richmond Town on Staten Island. I got off the train at Oakwood Heights and along with a visiting South Korean visitor, ubered the half to one mile inland to visit historic Richmond Town.
We were dropped off in a large parking lot adjacent to the main building, which turned out to be the rear of the site, and walked in. It was less than two hours before closing time and on this cold March day, things were pretty quiet.
In the museum gift shop we Lou Maira who manages it. The visiting South Korean took off on his own, while I struck up a conversation with Lou. He told me that we were in the Court House, which was the County Seat for Staten Island in 1837. The Court House also served as the prison. He told me that this late in the day, on the off season, wasn't really the optimal time to see the place, but he accommodated my unscheduled inquisitiveness anyhow.
Historic Richmond Town on Staten Island lies on 100 Acres of Colonial & 19th Century History
Lou told me that there were 15 buildings in Historic Richmond Town. He informed me that tours are given regularly by knowledgeable guides and that they take about an hour and fifteen minutes. The whole town lies on about one hundred acres. At some point in the conversation, one of the tour guides whose name I apparently didn't write down [please send it to me if you read this], joined us, and we continued conversing about Historic Richmond Town. In the photo at right is one of the tour guides of Historic Richmond Town on Staten Island.
Guyon Tavern in Historic Richmond Town
One of the buildings is Guyon Tavern, which may be found about a block and a half away on Richmond Road. The Court House lies at the top of a small hill where Center Street and Court Place meet. Guyon Tavern hosts tavern nights in March and April, where a thirsty 19th century American could and still can get a bottle of ale.
Historic Richmond Town - Things To Do on Staten Island
Historic Richmond Town also hosts other events. In the May / June timeframe there's a program entitled On Court, which I was told is a fairly large festival that includes live entertainment, beer and wine and food. And in September there's a pretty huge festival, it's Historic Richmond Town's signature event, called the County Fair.
The houses in Historic Richmond Town range in dates from the 1600's, 1700's and into the 1800's. The houses built in the 1700's date back to the time of the American Revolutionary War.
I'll add more to this, including more photos, at a later date. But suffice it to say it's worth at least one visit and likely many more. You can find out more about it and their events at https://www.historicrichmondtown.org
NHDS
Article 1450
Staten Island Neighborhoods
Staten Island Neighborhoods covered include - st george, snug harbor, west brighton, fort wadsworth, manor heights, clifton, mariners harbor, historic richmond town, south beach, tompkinsville, westerleigh, stapleton, port richmond and tottenville neighborhood on staten island nyc
The photo at right is of Snug Harbor in the Randall Manor neighborhood of Staten Island.
SI TTDo
Article 1456
Staten Island Things To Do
Staten Island Things To Do not far from - st george, snug harbor, west brighton, fort wadsworth, manor heights, clifton, mariners harbor, historic richmond town, south beach, tompkinsville, westerleigh, stapleton, port richmond and tottenville neighborhood on staten island nyc
On Wednesday, May 25th I went to the Goddard Riverside Community Center on Columbus Avenue at 88th Street to attend a housing clinic designed to inform renters of their rights.
***The following introduction is based on prior research done by me, and was not information provided at the housing clinic. I'll let you know when I segue out of my preamble and into the housing clinic.***
Over the past decade landlords appear to have become increasingly aggressive in trying to wriggle out of NYC and NYS rent stabilization regulations, that govern the rental payments under which about two million New Yorkers live.
It is my understanding that the government contributed land and / or financing to build or repair the buildings governed by NYC / NYS rent stabilization laws in exchange for the pricing rights on rent stabilized units. Many of the new landlords who have acquired rent stablized buildings, may possibly be in violation of approaching their business contract(s) in good faith, as the definition of good faith according to Wikipedia is:
"In contract law, the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing is a general presumption that the parties to a contract will deal with each other honestly, fairly, and in good faith, so as to not destroy the right of the other party or parties to receive the benefits of the contract. It is implied in every contract in order to reinforce the express covenants or promises of the contract. A lawsuit (or a cause of action) based upon the breach of the covenant may arise when one party to the contract attempts to claim the benefit of a technical excuse for breaching the contract, or when he or she uses specific contractual terms in isolation in order to refuse to perform his or her contractual obligations, despite the general circumstances and understandings between the parties. When a court or triar or fact interprets a contract, there is always an "implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing" in every written agreement."
What is at stake, throughout the city, is literally hundreds of millions and more likely billions of dollars in - rental benefits or rental income streams - depending on which side of the struggle you're on. The landlords appear to be trying - using the torturtous side effects of construction including noise, health risk dust [inhalation], privacy loss and apartment functional loss - to wrest away the billions of dollars of rental pricing rights benefits from tenants to be pocketed by the landlords themselves. Given the high dollar value of what's at stake - including people's homes - this seems like attempted grand larceny, especially in cases where landlords are breaking the law to achieve their goals.
This will be continued at a later date. Including the segue into the information provided by the Housing Clinic to inform tenants of their rights.
Tenants' Rights March & Rally - June 14th Midtown at 4.30 pm
P.S. There's a March & Rally scheduled for June 14th, beginning at 4.30 pm, at the NY Public Library at 5th Avenue and 40th Street. They plan to march to Governor Cuomo's office at 3rd Avenue and East 41st Street. For details contact info@realrentreform.org or call 212.979.6958. All but one of the No IDC NY senatorial candidates have been invited to participate, and there's a possibility that NYS gubernatorial candidate Cynthia Nixon will be there too - as this seems to coincide with her reasons for challenging Governor Cuomo.
NY Real Estate Expo
NYC Professionals Discuss Manhattan & NYC Metro Real Estate
I attended the 10th annual NY Real Estate Expo at the New York Hilton last week. The event was well attended by hundreds of real estate, development and financial professionals from the NYC and metro area. Anthony Kazazis, Director of the event, had organized a series of panels to discuss key aspects affecting the real estate market ranging from software platforms, to financing, to NYC real estate market assessments.
Generally the mood was upbeat, but not without some concern about the future, given changes in the tax laws, foreign interest in NYC investment, interest rates forecasts and technological challenges facing the industry. But, I thought, that is why everyone is here. To find out what's going on so they can navigate the market changes - rather than be surprised by them.
While I had intended to stay only a short while, I found the topics and panelists too interesting to leave, so I stayed most of the day. I started with a discussion of a new information technology platform called Blockchain, which is intended to serve as an information clearing house, and it includes some artificial intelligence capability. I then found my way into a discussion about New York City versus Silicon Valley with respect to attracting large technology companies like Amazon, Facebook and Google. And I ended my visit after listening in on a discussion by NYC and metro area realtors discuss the residential real estate market in Manhattan and outer boroughs.
Sound like an interesting NYC real estate conference? It was. In the photo above you can see the audience at the well attended panel discussions at the NY Real Estate Expo this year.
I'll have more on this later in the week.
Update: LaGuardia Airport Development Project
First Phase Moving Along with Second & Third Phases About to Begin
I attended a Community Board One meeting at the Astoria World Manor on Wednesday, April 19th. People representing the LaGuardia Airport development project were scheduled to provide the community with an update regarding several of the multi-billion dollar renovation projects associated with LaGuardia Airport, that are either currently in the works or nearing the end of the planning process.
The presentation was split into three parts: 1) LaGuardia Airport development project construction updates, 2) traffic mitigation efforts and 3) community outreach including job opportunities related to the projects.
Click here to read our report on the LaGuardia Airport development project & expansion, related job opportunities, its possible impact on travel times to the airport and the public hearing details on May 3rd, 2017 in Flushing. We have also included a small bit of history about the airport and the fight over the property and development in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. The graphic at right was created as part of the LaGuardia Airport development project.
NYC & NYS Continue to Have Lower Murder Rates Than the Rest of the Nation
The Past Couple of Months, NYC Murders have been Below 2019 Levels, and NYC Shootings are Down Double Digits versus 2020, While Gun Arrests Have Doubled vs 2020
This is news you're not likely to find in Australian born billionaire Rupert Murdoch's NY Post, Wall St. Journal nor Fox News because it doesn't fit with Murdoch's self-enriching, propagandistic narratives of blaming Democrats for the increase in violent / gun crimes. He appears to use such narratives to get the politicians who will give him tax breaks, and allow him to continue deregulating his industries, so he can make ever more money at the expense of American Democracy.
The NYPD has been working hard to rein in the out-of-control sales and trafficking of guns in the nation, because of the absence of an intelligent debate on national gun control legislation to combat the growing gun violence, and in particular the mass shootings, that started rising again during the Trump Administration and continued rising in the wake of the CoVid pandemic.
Year To Date Murders in NYC are Below the National Average & Have Begun Falling Versus 2020
So we're going to take a look at a number of the NYC crime statistics, and then follow up with an analytical look at some of the issues driving gun related violence, before closing with a look at the distorted, deceitful and destructive coverage provided by Murdoch's Fox News & Propaganda.
As you can see by the chart at right, with the exception of GLA or Grand Larceny Auto and YTD / Year To Date Shootings, all NYC crime is either in the single digits or down, versus last year. It's important to note however, that in July shootings dropped by 35% versus prior year [up 17% YTD], while gun arrests were up 134% versus the prior year [up 68% YTD], so the NYPD continues to make good progress in this regard. And murders were down 49% in July versus prior year and down 10% year to date.
The chart at right shows the NYPD Crime statistics for the month of July 2021 and Year To Date 2021. I have also included comparisons to 2019 as 2020 was an unusual year all the way around - including for NYC crime.
The Iron Pipeline - Interstate 95 - is used to Transport Guns from Primarily Red Republican States with Lax Gun Laws
The graphic at right shows what is called the 'Iron Pipeline' which is Interestate 95 which runs from New York to Florida. This interestate highway is used to transport guns / weapons across state lines from mostly red Republican controlled states with lax gun control laws to blue states that have passed stronger gun control laws.
Once the guns arrive here, they are illegally sold and are the root of the gun violence and murder problem in New York City and New York State. Thankfully, Mayor de Blasio, Commissioner Shea and the NYPD are on top of things, and have been working hard to rein in the problem, even in the absense of national legislative help.
I think President Biden should look into the possibility of using federal powers regulating interstate commerce, to curtail the transport and sale of guns into states that have tighter regulatory frameworks surrounding the sale of murder weapons. And perhaps the district attorneys in our city and state should consider naming the people who sell these guns, as accessories or even accomplices, to the crimes committed with them.
This Report Provides an Update on Why the Downward Trend in CoVid Infections Swung Back Up, the Science Behind the Vaccine Breakthrough Infections, the Lamda & Delta Variants, the Precautionary Wisdom of Continuing to Wear Masks & the Impact of Murdoch Controlled News Outlets Continuous Stream of Mass Media Disinformation
Is it the Patriotic Duty of Every Eligible American to Get Vaccinated?
August 9, 2021 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC during the CoVid Pandemic / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz NYC.
I reckon we all wish it weren't so, but CoVid 19 has been resurging with a vengeance these past couple of months, fueled largely by the Delta variant, which at the beginning of May 2021, accounted for less than 10% of U.S. new cases, while today it accounts for more than 90% of all new U.S. CoVid infections. What's most disturbing about this new trend is that even fully vaccinated people can catch the Delta variant, which was largely NOT the case with the original strain [alpha] of CoVid. The infections that are picked up by fully vaccinated people are called 'breakthrough' infections, because they have broken through the immunity protection provided by the vaccines.
In the graphic at right, note the large light blue at the right of the graphic, which denoted the Delta variant of CoVid which grew from almost nothing in May, to almost every new CoVid case in the U.S. in August.
The Delta Variant has Changed So Significantly, Hence the New CoVid Reign of Terror
I found a chart that I found of great interest in an August 5, 2021 story in the Gothamist, which was acquired by NPR in 2018. The chart shows how the original CoVid is almost non-existent in the U.S. today, while the Delta variant has risen to represent over 90% of all new cases.
The vaccines were developed to address the original CoVid stain, as the Delta variant - as noted above - didn't become a real factor until about May of this year. Thus, the vaccines efficacy in preventing CoVid has been significantly reduced, but thankfully the vaccines are still very effective in preventing the worst possible outcomes which are hospitalizations and death.
The Trouble, Fear, Pain & Relief of My First CoVid Vaccination
As More New Yorkers are Vaccinated, the Pressure Grows on Those Who've Not Yet Received a Shot, Also the Role of Limiting Eligibility in Effecting a Smoothe Transition & Effective Tuesday 3/23/21 Folks Aged 50 plus Become Eligible for the CoVid Vaccination
So I've been putting off getting a CoVid vaccination ever since I became eligible earlier this year. At first I held off was because there were intermittent shortages of the vaccine, then rumors of long lines to get them, and finally I had to wrestle through the various websites offering a shot, at a time and place that 'easily' worked for me.
Finding a Vaccination Center Near You in NYC
But this past week I hit the proverbial CoVid vaccine jackpot, after spending what was probably a couple of hours online trying to navigate my way to an appointment. One of the issues are the numerous websites out there, offering vaccines. There's both NYC and NYS vaccinations centers and I waded through each looking for specific locations, specific vaccinations [J&J, Pfizer & Moderna] and specific times.
Let me make it simple for you, as I oftentimes ended up on this site.
On Saturday morning around 11 am a Blue Lives Matter parade began on Greenpoint Avenue and 39th Street in Sunnyside Queens. I arrived shortly after it began and followed it up to Joseph Sabba Park where several people were to give speeches to the parade participants and attendees.
As the parade arrived at Joseph Sabba Park they were met by a group of Black Lives Matter protesters who were kneeling on the sidewalk holding placards making Black Lives Matter statements. The Blue Lives Matter parade participants paused as they came in direct contact. As I sat there video recording the ‘confrontation’ I wondered whether things might take a turn for the worse and go badly.
Blue Lives Matter Parade & Speakers Queens NYC
Whoever was leading the Blue Lives Matter parade, wisely led the Blue Lives Matter parade around the Black Lives Matter protesters - rather than risking walking through them - where someone on one side or another might have escalated the tension to a higher level.
The Blue Lives Matter parade participants and attendees settled in the middle of Joseph Sabba Park and the speeches began. The first speaker, whose name I didn’t catch, spoke supportively of the police and the important work they do in the community. He struck a human chord, noting that the men and women who serve in the police force are dedicated to serving the community, among whom are their own families and children. He ended saying we’re all human.
The second speaker struck a more passionate Blue Lives Matter tone, remarking that the ‘Diaphragm’ Law hindered police from doing their jobs. The Diaphragm Law allows police officers to be subject to a misdemeanor if they constrict a person’s diaphragm in the process of making an arrest.
What I recorded of both of these speeches will be shown in the video.
The signs of the Blue Lives Matter parade participants also showed a range of thoughts and emotions, ranging from striking a supportive and yet harmonious chord, while others were defiantly in support of the police – seeming to ignore the validity of the Black Lives Matter social unrest. They included Enough with the hate, respect goes both ways, to Reform is for criminals, drug addicts and sex offenders.
The video below is an interpretive depiction of a protest event in McCarren Park early last week. The piece is meant to be savored - like food, music and cinematography.
I watched the George Floyd protests unfold on the nightly TV newscasts for a couple of days before venturing out myself to see what I might learn. The protests began on Friday, May 29th in NYC, following the death of George Floyd, an African American who was asphyxiated, apparently due to a Minneapolis policeman holding a knee over George Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes which was caught on video.
TV News Appears to Sensationalize More than Inform
On Saturday night Fox News ran and reran the same footage multiple times of a car burning, seeming to hype and sensationalize the footage into a full blown ‘riot’. The a lot of the Fox footage was taken from the air, in a helicopter which they lease (reportedly) for millions annually, which again repeatedly showed video of the crowd below, which appeared to be mostly our men in blue. So given little good video, they talked about groups dallying into the police and back again – but really didn’t seem to have any video to support their claims. The next day Mayor de Blasio reported that there were no deaths and no serious injuries to members of the NYPD or the crowd. But there was some looting.
An NBC news account made the situation seem far more chaotic than it was by shaking the camera, providing the appearance of chaos. And so on.
More Photos & Video Coming Wednesday
Covering the George Floyd Protests in NYC from the Ground - Not from a Cushy Corporate Media Chopper
The ‘crisis’ seemed to be more manufactured by the TV news, than by what was actually happening on the streets, which is why I decided I needed to cover this myself. Second hand TV news seems increasingly like garbage news, but before I could make such a claim, I had to see for myself.
Having grown up in a newspaper family, I’ve been watching the news and presentation of it all of my life, beginning with the Kennedy assassination, which my father made all of us watch as he said it was history in the making. Back then the news was owned by dozens, if not hundreds of independent newspapermen and broadcasters, so like social media, there was a variety of news presentations and you could pick from them.
Today large multi-billion dollar corporations control most of the news we see, and it seems their focus is largely centered around profit driven ratings instead of a fair and balanced presentation of the news. This is why they seem to hype, sensationalize and distort Americans’ perceived reality in order to keep them glued to the tube. And the hyping and sensationalizing is not getting better – it’s getting worse.
No longer can you turn on the TV to be informed, but rather to be scared, angered and far too often – to become disinformed.
A week ago, on Tuesday, January 21st I attended the Community Board One meeting at the Astoria World Manor where the board was asked to approve the closing of the Rikers Island Detention Facility effective sometime before the end of the year 2026.
The photo at right was taken from an airplane while landing at LaGuardia in a prior year. Rikers Island Correctional Facility is a stone's throw away from LGA.
Queens Community Board One in Astoria Votes on Rikers Closure
The presentation consisted of two slides. One highlighted the social / moral blight that Rikers Island had become. The second slide simply proposed the request in very limited terms - the closing of Rikers Island and the conversion of it to a ‘public place’. The presentation to the Committee was done by a team lead by Dana Kaplan, Deputy Director of the NYC Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice.
So please note that the Community Board had no role in the placement of neighborhood jails, nor did they sign off on anything that may become of Rikers Island going forward. They only approved the closing of the Correctional Facility and the allowance of use for it as a "public place".
I spoke with CB1 District Manager Florence Kolouris after the meeting about what exactly that meant. She told me that there isn’t any definition, per se, given for public place – but a couple of examples of prior public places include Lincoln Center, Fort Totten and Queens Borough Hall.
The Community Board approved the measure with a recommendation that CB1 be kept in the loop throughout the closing process, including any demolition. Plenty of questions followed regarding what would become of the 400 acre island. Nothing concrete was proposed at this time, but the audience was assured that any changes would have to come through the Community Board via the ULURP process [Uniform Land Use Review Procedure].
The Bronx & Queens - Rikers Island Community Jurisdiction & Prison Population
It’s worth noting that technically Rikers Island is a part of the Bronx – not Queens – even though the only road traveling onto the island originates in the Astoria / East Elmhurst neighborhoods of Queens. In addition to Queens Community Board One, Bronx Community Board Two, representing the Hunts Point neighborhood, also has influence over the island. Since the Dinkins Administration in the 1990's, there's been a floating barge facility that's docked in Hunts Point, that is considered a part of the Rikers Island Correctional Facility.
Currently there are an estimated 7,000 plus inmates on Rikers Island. At its height, in 1991, Rikers Island held an estimated overcapacity inmate population of nearly 22,000. By the time the facility is to be closed in 2026, the inmate population is expected to have declined to between 3,000 and 4,000.
The photo at right shows the Rikers Island Correctional Facility which will be closed by the end of 2026.
Mayor de Blasio & NYPD Discuss City Safety & Ongoing Improvements
February 7, 2017 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Government / Staten Buzz NYC.
This just came in on the heels of our coverage of the Public Safety discussion below. Mayor de Blasio and NY Police Commissioner O'Neill spoke in the Bronx regarding ongoing efforts and results in improving safety in the city. The following are some of the crime statistics noted in their meeting taken directly out of a press release sent by them.
Chief of Crime Control Strategies Dermot Shea, NYPD: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Good afternoon, everyone. As you’ve heard, we have begun a strong start to 2017 in terms of overall crime reduction. Strategies that have been put in place to address repeat offenders, illegal gun possession and gangs are having the desired effect. We’re building on the momentum of the last few years.
So, some of the highlights for crime statistics from this January – overall index crime is down 0.2 percent for the month of January. When you carry it over to this morning, we are now down 2.7 percent in overall index crime in New York City.
To note – with the overall index crime, January marks the tenth consecutive month of reduced index crime. That’s the momentum we’ve been talking about. Currently, four out of five boroughs in New York City – all but Queens – are down to start the year.
Homicides – we recorded 20 homicides in January. That’s down two from 22. That 20, as the Mayor alluded to, is the lowest January that we have ever recorded going back a minimum into the 1960s.
Shooting incidents – down 1.7 percent in January. Last January we hit the modern mark with 59 shooting incidents. We came in with 58 this January.
Talking about momentum again – nine of the last 13 months we’ve had a reduction in shooting incidents. Nine of the last 13.
Three months in a row we’ve had a reduction in shooting incidents in New York City. We have now, when you look at New York City as a whole, we now have 24-hour periods where we do not record a shooting incident in New York City. That kind of thinking was impossible in the not too distant past.
This is the new normal. We want to build on it and we feel that we will build on it but there’s still plenty of work to do.
Stabbings and slashings for January – down 7.2 percent.
Robberies – down 7.5 percent. Lowest January robbery number we’ve seen.
Felony assaults in New York City – down 5.4 percent.
Burglaries tied the lowest mark set last year.
Transit crime – down 1.4 percent.
And housing crime – not to be outdone – down 1.9 percent.
Clearly, a wide breath of crime across New York City – property and violent crime, down.
But there is, I alluded to, there is still work to do – three categories we saw increases in January.
Rape was up 8.9 percent.
Grand larceny, specifically, credit card related skimming and forging of checks – those two drove grand larcenies. And grand larceny was up for the month of January 4.7 percent.
And lastly, rounding out the crime totals – stolen vehicles which we have seen drop to unprecedented lows saw an increase of ten cars for January. So, that’s 480 versus 470 – a two percent increase.
Commissioner O’Neill: Okay, thanks, Dermot. We’ll take your questions.
Question: Do you think it’s possible, really to keep driving crime down further at this point? And how could you achieve that?
O'Neill's response was yes, with some added context.
The Nature of Democracy is Compromise
How Else Would a Majority of 330 Million People Get Agreement on Anything?
There are a couple of important legislative bills being debated in the House and Senate. On the one hand you have the Progressive Caucus threatening to hold, or even kill, the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill passed in the Senate. And on the other you have a couple of Democratic Senators withholding their votes on passing the $3.5 trillion Build Back Better bill.
Trump left office leaving a multi-trillion dollar deficit in 2020, and the same is expected to occur this year, regardless of the votes on the pending bills. If both bills pass, these huge deficits could spell significant trouble for American business, the economy and the people employed by them by virtue of impacting the trading rate for our currency vis a vis other currencies around the world. The combination of these bills could significantly devalue the purchasing power of the dollar.
If neither bill passes, Biden along with EVERY OTHER Democrat, would be negatively impacted. By possibly failing to pass at least one of the measures, while holding majorities in both chambers, the Democrats would leave themselves wide open to the opposition labeling them "Do Nothing Democrats". And you can be sure that Rupert Murdoch's Fox News, NY Post, Wall St Journal and ABC News would not let that opportunity slip by unheralded, unhyped and unsensationalized by his plethora of putrid propagandists.
There comes a time when one must step back and see the bigger picture. And at present, the bigger picture is that the Democrats can score a BIG WIN, by passing the INFRASTRUCTURE BILL - as that can be a rallying cry for them in the 2022 midterms and beyond. In passing the INFRASTRUCTURE BILL, Biden and the Democrats would have accomplished something that PRESIDENT TRUMP AND THE REPUBLICANS FAILED TO DO, with even bigger majorities in both chambers.
It would be very sad, to see the Democrats let this opportunity slip away, because they fail to do what American legislators have done beginning with the inception of the republic - which is to compromise in order to get something done. We are at an important inflection point, voters, so pay heed to who votes which way, so that in 2022 and beyond, you'll know who is so uncompromising, that they will never get anything done.
I like Bernie, and in 2016 found his candidacy to be of great interest. I think he's an important player in politics in our day, and continues to play an important role in the national conversation. But that said, the reason Biden won out for the presidency, is that Sanders he has never achieved anything legislatively. Click here for our report on Senator Sanders' candidacy for president in 2016.
911 / The War in Afghanistan is Over - but the War on the Truth that put us there - Continues
TV News People Provided Superficial, Dimwitted, Gossipy Accounts of the Withdrawal, & Unfortunately, Far too many of the Print Reports Weren’t Much Better
Somehow amidst the din of Murdoch mass media hyped criticism, the real headline was buried.
"The War is Over. The Twenty Year War in Afghanistan is Over. "
This was one of two Murdoch Wars - So his Outlets Seemed to Disminish or Ignore the Human & Taxpayer Costs - Over 170,000 Human Lives & Over $2 Trillion and Counting - and so did the Knuckleheads at the Other News Outlets
Where are the parades? Where are the celebrations? Where are the Congressional and Senate committees and hearings to investigate how we got into the Afghanistan war in the first place? And then why we stayed so long? Who incited this war and then profited from the $2 trillion in spending that the U.S. taxpayer took out loans to pay?
About 2,461 American soldiers died in the Afghanistan War. According to an August 17, 2021 report by the Associated Press, another 3846 American contractors lost their lives, as well as 72 journalists. The Afghanis suffered significant fatalities as well, as 66,000 Afghani military and police died, 47,000 Afghani civilians and 51,000 Taliban fighters.
TV News Provided Scant Real Insight, Information or Understanding Surrounding America's Withdrawal from Afghanistand to the Viewer
In the reporting over the past month or so I DID NOT SEE EVEN ONE REFERENCE TO THE RUSSIAN WITHDRAWAL from Afghanistan in the 1980’s. NOT ONE! Why does that matter?
Because if you’re going to evaluate how effective the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan was, you MUST look at prior history, and the Russian withdrawal is the closest, realistic assessment of what the costs of withdrawal from Afghanistan could, would or should be. I watched with something bordering between disgust and horror, as the gutted out nationally branded TV ‘news’ organizations ‘informed’ the American people as to what was happening as the American withdrawal from Afghanistan took place before our eyes in real time.
I. The Pied Piper Framed a Dishonest & Negative Narrative about President Biden's Handling of the Withdrawal via his WSJ, then Echoed it with the Nearly Half of the Nationally Branded U.S. Daily Media he Controls, which the Lazy and / or Incompetent Competition then Parrotted
Australian born billionaire, Rupert Murdoch - as is too often the case - led the rest of the mindless mass media, like the Pied Piper. On August 15, 2021, the Wall St. Journal published an OpEd by the ‘Editorial Board’. The ‘Editorial Board’ appears to be the pen name of billionaire Rupert Murdoch who owns and controls the paper. The ‘Editorial Board’ said published the narrative that Biden was incompetent and had messed things up, with scant reference to history or a holistic presentation of the facts.
Ever since that narrative was published, it has been used by many of the rest of the mass media, to contextualize or frame presentations made by the corporate press in discussing the American withdrawal from Afghanistan. Not everyone in the mass media was so incompetent or so lazy that they used the mendacious Murdoch’s narrative – thankfully. But eyeballing things, I’d estimate that more than half of them did. I suppose the good news is that there are still a few real, independent-minded journalists operating in our midst.
Murdoch used his Wall St. Journal brand to lead the narrative, because it has a history as a respected publication. Even though respect for the brand seems to have been diminishing ever since Murdoch’s took control of the paper in August of 2007. After the announcement many of the real journalists who could leave, did. Barron’s was included in the acquisition and remains a Murdoch brand today.
A Look Back at the NYC Municipal Primary Election Results of 2021
Females Won Big, But Because of Ranked Choice Voting, the Results Trickled in Over the Past Month, & Real Assessments of the Changed Landscape have yet to Follow
The June 22nd election primary for NYC municipal offices has long passed, but a solid look at the overall results of the election has not yet followed. What I will attempt to do today, is to offer provide a top down summary of the results, along with some interpretation of what this means going forward.
Women Won Big in the New York City Council Democratic Primaries
One of the biggest changes to municipal government likely to occur following the November election is that the NYC Council will move from less than a third women, to over half women for the first time in NYC history. This assumes most or all of the Democrats win their seats in the general election. This usually happens in a heavily blue state like New York, just as Republican primary winners in Alabama become the likely winners of the general election in that heavily red state. Somewhere between 29 and 31 of the Democratic primary winners in the NYC Council races were women out of a 51 member municipal legislative body.
NYC Municipal Election Primaries are Tuesday June 22nd & a Brief Look at the Root Causes of Violent Crime in NYC
NYC Mayoral Primary Tuesday, June 22nd - also NYC Comptroller, NYC Public Advocate, All NYC Borough Presidencies, Manhattan District Attorney & NYC City Councilmembers
In NYC politics, most of the electoral decisions are really made in the Democratic primaries, as the city is populated by an overwhelming majority of registered Democrats. Thus, whoever wins the Democratic primary, is generally the odds on favorite to win the general election. Not to say that there aren't exceptions, but they are just that - exceptions.
Which is why - if you care about who allocates the funding of municipal budgets, who determines on the local statutes by which we must live, and who feeds the media and thereby the electorate the topics and perspectives on life as we live it - you'll make an effort to do a bit of research on the candidates and then visit your local poll to cast your ballot. If you scroll down this page, we have provided some coverage of the candidates vying in some of the major races, and some coverage of the major NYC Mayoral candidates, which you may find of interest.
The graphic to your right will take you to the NYC Poll finder, so you can input your address & zip to find your local poll site. Polls are generally open from 6 am - 9 pm.
I'll have a few more tidbits on the local election primaries / candidates and an NYC Crime Stats update later today.
The reason for including a report on NYC crime statistics is that the local TV stations seem to provide an uninformed or unintelligible depiction of what's going on vis a vis crime in our fair city. Too often they sound like a bunch of empty headed nitwits spouting off hearsay rather than facts. And asking the large, corporate-owned TV stations, to hire teleprompter readers who would spend as much time actually thinking about what they're reading from the teleprompter - as they do on their collective hair, wardrobes and make up - would seem to be asking them for far too much.
Here's a link to the data I compiled using the NYPD monthly reports to show the year to date crime stats for the city versus last year - but also versus 2019 - as last year was the pandemic which skewed everything. I'll add the commentary later today [now added - see below] on the NYC Crime Statistics Year to Date May 2021.
How Would a Mayor Eric Adams Govern?
He Seems to Favor Charter Schools & They Seem to Favor Him, He's Pulled in the Most Real Estate Cash & He has Indicated He'll Reverse Course a bit on Police Reform & ...
Last week I did a report snapshotting what I know about Scott Stringer's political career that leads me to think he's not to be trusted.
Stringer takes big public stands on what I would call generic Democratic issues over which he has little influence - gender equality, race and climate change - while speaking with forked tongue on issues over which he has considerable influence - like real estate developments, local education, public libraries and the pension fund investments - that significantly impact the local communities, neighborhoods and unions.
In that report I also noted how Stringer seems opportunistic in compromising his stances [for example in education and the public library system] in order to capitalize on what he seems to think are self enhancing career opportunities. And Stringer also seems to have used the power and authority of government positions entrusted to him by the people, to aid those who fund his campaigns, possibly trading what's good for the people, in exchange for what's good for Scott Stringer.
Stringer hit my radar nearly a decade ago, while Eric Adams only hit my radar a few years ago. So I'm less familiar with Adams career than Stringer's. But in doing the research, I found that Eric Adams appears to be a slow steady hand, whose positions have evolved over time ... and I would add that generally they appear to have evolved carefully.
1. Eric Adams - Public Schools & Education
Pro Charter Schools & What that Means
FOR PROFIT Charter Schools, don't seem to solve the failing schools problem, but rather split and shift the problem burdens, while privatizing and gutting a significant portion of the public school system. I began reporting on education during the Bloomberg era, wherein Bloomberg's Administration seemed to split public schools into two smaller entities, and then parcel out the achieving students / families via charter recruitment to the privately run for profit charters, while leaving the lower performing students / families in the care of unions and the general public. It seemed to me they didn't really solve anything, and sucked needed capital out of the public school system, putting it in the hands of the venture capitalists who were funding them.
This situation appeared to me not unlike what the insurance industry had done prior to Obamacare - whereby the insurance companies recruited healthy people for health insurance, and avoided signing those who weren't healthy in order to enhance their economic performance. To me this goes against the grain of what America is all about - which is equal opportunity for all. The privatization of the public schools by the predatory for profit charters would turn the public education system into the haves and have nots.
*** It's worth noting that NON-PROFIT CHARTERS evolved for different reasons and provided a healthy challenge to the union run public education system and I view far more favorably than the for profit charters.
Media Monopoly Billionaire, Rupert Murdoch, Incites Another Mob & Pushes a VIGILANTE 'Rush to Justice' through his Propaganda Outlets
A Closer Look at Janice Dean's Vitriolic Accusations that Andrew Cuomo Mishandled the Corona Virus Pandemic in Nursing Homes & the Multiple Allegations of Harassment
We left off last week with Janice Dean telling us 'Our Family's Losses are Not Political' and she appears to do a soft launch of her campaign for NYS Governor in 2022 with what seems the unbridled media support aka propaganda of Australian born billionaire Rupert Murdoch.
Rupert Murdoch controls Fox News, the NY Post, the Wall St Journal, Harper Collins Book Publishing and he is the largest shareholder of Disney / ABC. Allowing one person, especially this one, to control this much share of America's media is harmful to this nation because he appears to use his mass media outlets propagandistically to control who gets elected.
Why Murdoch's 21st Century Fox FCC licenses aren't legally challenged for spreading all of the distorted truths to outright lies about gender and race - is incomprehensible to me.
The NY Post graphic at right was used to try to incite and railroad Democrats to oust Cuomo in one of Murdoch's many fascist efforts to bypass rule of law and due process, to enable another of his power grabs in our governmment. I did what the editor of that poorly edited Murdoch media outlet should have done, and turned it back around to feature Murdoch in place of Cuomo.
This is Nazi style management of media and government, as oftentimes the pols Murdoch propagandistically pushes out of office wouldn't bend to his will, and those he ushers in, seem to give him whatever he wants, that they can either hide from the public or con the public into believing is good for them. This is how Goebbels and Hitler usurped the people's power in the budding German democracy in the late 1920's and early 1930's.
Rupert Murdoch & Janice Dean Want You to Believe She's Sunshine, but her Tweets & Vicious Comments Reveal the Opposite
Dean Claims She's Not Politically Motivated, while Seeming to do a 'Soft Launch' of Her Campaign 2022 for NYS Governor on 'Free' Murdoch Media Infommercials
See the report posted on March 12, 2021 for a look into Janice Dean's soft campaign launch for NYS Governor and probe into some of her possible motives for launching such vehement attacks on Andrew Cuomo. Here we pick up on more Janice Dean contradictions where the Fox News host and weather person seem guilty in some measure of doing the same things of which they're accusing Governor Cuomo.
A December 12, 2020 report in the Wrap tells us that Janice Dean tweeted the following,
" ... Nothing wrong with criticizing a politician who likes to profit off the deaths of New Yorkers. (He wrote a book too about ‘leadership’ during a pandemic) You’re right, I don’t like the governor because his policies help kill my husbands parents... "
In the Friday, March 12, 2021 report I probe the guilt that oftentimes afflicts families that place their parents [in this case it's Janice Dean's in-laws] in nursing homes, and explore some possible personal motivations for placing or shifting the blame for their deaths at the feet of Governor Cuomo. There's also a brief timeline of the events in question and less so of the nursing home reporting aftermath.
Weekend Update & A Different Perspective on Andrew Cuomo's Troubles
The Weather Returns to Seasonal, Daylight Savings Time Springs Ahead Sunday, People Vaccinated Growing Rapidly & Has Raging Rupert Incited Another Rioting Mob?
This past week, we experienced a few enjoyable weather days this week, with temperatures in the 60's and 70's. But alas, all good things must come to an end, so starting tonight the temperature will fall back into the 30's and we'll return to seasonal weather for the next week or so.
Weather. The temperature high will be about 70 on Friday, returning to the 50's on Saturday and Sunday. The temperature lows will fall to the mid 30's tonight and Saturday and then fall to the mid 20's on Sunday night. No rain is in the forecast and the humidity will remain low at about 30% throughout the weekend. The wind will range from 10 - 18 mph on Friday, 5 - 10 mph Saturday and rise back up to 18 mph on Sunday.
Daylight Savings Time, where you 'spring ahead' by setting your clock ahead an hour ahead, begins early Sunday morning at 2 am. At present it gets light about 6 am, so following the change it will become light out around 7 am, and currently it gets dark around 6 pm, and following the change it will then get dark around 7 pm.
The number of New Yorkers and Americans vaccinated continues to grow quickly. As of this post some 65 million Americans or about 20% of the nation has received at least one shot. New York is staying abreast with the rest of the nation, with four million New Yorkers [state] having received at least one shot, which is 20% of the state population of about 20 million. New York City has vaccinted 1.8 million people which is also about 20% of the 8.4 million New York City residents.
And the pace of vaccinations continues to accelerate, because just this past week, in New York State over a million doses were administered. President Biden wants everyone to be eligible to receive the vaccine by early May, so that come Independence Day, we can celebrate together is a post pandemic normalcy. The nation's production of vaccine continues to grow, and the vaccine distribution / administration capability which is handled at the state and municipal level, appear to be in place to handle the growing demand.
Children are not among those eligible to be vaccinated. This is because most children do not appear to become severely ill. There are tests being conducted on vaccinating younger children ages 16 - 18, as well as some kids as young as 12, and plans are being discussed regarding vaccinating children 5 - 11.
Did Raging Rupert Murdoch's Mass Media Riot Machine Incite Another Mob by Distorting & Using #MeToo?
March 12, 2021 / US Politics / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz NYC.
While watching the story of Governor Cuomo's troubles unfold, they triggered my 'spidey sense', or as it used to be called, my newsman's nose. In either case something smells rotten in NYS and as oftentimes is the case, it seems to be coming from Rupert Murdoch's 21st Century & Newscorp - which includes the NY Post, the Wall Street Journal, Fox News, his Harper Collins Publishing Company and possibly with an assist from Disney / ABC News where he has become the largest shareholder and where he seems to be making behind-the-scense personnel moves in the news division.
Even more than Trump, Rupert Murdoch is a trojan horse threat to our democracy. He has already turned both Australia and Britain into banana republics where he appears to change prime ministers at the drop of a hat and unfortunately most of the natives of those lands don't even seem to be aware that they're living in a mediacracy - which is a state controlled by one man's mass media holdings. Both Britain and Australia have been through at least four prime ministers within the past five years, because it seems Murdoch couldn't get exactly what he wanted on the first three tries.
Why do I think the stench is coming from Murdoch's 21st Century & Newscorp and not the Governor's mansion? Because Murdoch's gang of mendacious multi-millionaire minions too often seem not to give a damn about reporting the truth - but rather about distorting and even fictionalizing it to stoke the ratings busting fires of discontent - by attacking government officials who seem not to give Murdoch what he wants from them.
Murdoch's portfolio of wealthy teleprompter actors and actresses, seem to feign anger and outrage, in order to stoke the hyper ventillating audiences of reality contortionists Hannity, Ingraham, Pirro and Tucker into a ratings driven profit frenzy ... which the Australian born billionaire cashes in on, but also uses to brow beat those government officials who won't obey him and use our governmental apparatus to enhance Murdoch's wealth and power.
Earlier this year Murdoch's mass media appeared to help stoke the mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol by feeding their audiences misinformation about the integrity of the election results and of the voting apparatus. Murdoch's mendacious minions did such a colossal job of disinforming the American public, that they are now the defendants in a $2.7 multi-BILLION dollar lawsuit filed by Smartmatic, one of the voting machine companies.
Murdoch appeared to fire Fox News host Lou Dobbs in order to pretend Fox News doesn't tolerate that sort of thing [disinforming their audience], just like they fired Bill O'Reilly and Roger Ailes - BUT only after years of reported sexual harassment transgressions when it became too big to ignore, and activists started boycotting Fox advertisers and the greedy 'little man' billionaire started losing money on them. Then came the "I didn't know" and yet another Murdoch inspired phony act of the most insincere contrition.
Remorseful Rupert Murdoch's quintessential phony act of contrition was performed in Britain in 2012, during the investigation into his company's [or ies'] phone hacking of ordinary British citizens for sadistic pleasure and profit. Murdoch's company reportedly hacked the phones of private citizens in order to sensationalize their personal trauma and tragedy on the front pages of Murdoch's British tabloids and TV outlets. Revealing the personal and private pain of private citizen(s) appeared to be great for Murdoch's newspaper sales, great for Rupert's TV ratings and great for rapacious Rupert Murdoch's insatiable appetite for ever more money. It was all part of his life-long, predatory power grab from the ignorant people who get their 'news' from his outlets, and make their voting decisions based on it.
So let's take a look at how the Cuomo story / stories unfolded, in search of truth - not ratings, and in search of a more behind-the-scenes account of things [also known as asking why] - not by partaking in a superficial, broadcast mass media induced, modern day virtual mob lynching, which is what appears to be happening as we speak. The virtual mob won't hang Cuomo's real life carcass like a Mussolini, but rather they will hang his reputation out to dry, based entirely on - as of yet - unsubstantiated allegations made in some cases by people who haven't even revealed themselves and to date have remained fully anonymous. The broadcast TV mass media induced mob will leave Cuomo for politically dead ... which appears exactly what the perennially angry, mean, old man - Rupert Keith Murdoch - wants. Assuming of course, that the actions and words of so many of Murdoch's apparently dishonest minions, represents his the 'Triump of the Will' or the Goebbels-like Media Fuhrer's wishes.
Step aside Atticus Finch - there's a new mindless mob in town - and it appears to be incited by the Australian born propagandist, Herr Rupert Murdoch, America's 21st century Goebbels.
How the President, a Former NYC Mayor and Murdoch's Fox News Seemed to Incite the Capitol Insurrectionists
Rudy Giuliani, Nicknamed America's Mayor by Murdoch's Fox News, Appears to have Helped Incite the Band of Simpleminded Trumpsters to Insurrection
Updated January 11, 2021 from 1.8.21 / US Politics / NYC Neighborhoods / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz NYC.
Rising Film Star [Barat2] and Former NYC Mayor, Rudy Giuliani, appears to have devolved into something of a national freak show or farce over the past five years. Perhaps longer. But in the past few months, he's become something of a national disgrace.
Fox News seems to use nicknames for their propaganda assets, like referring to British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher as the 'Iron Lady' and President Ronald Reagan as the 'Gipper'. Rudy Giuliani seems to be yet another Fox propaganda asset and, as such, is oftentimes referred to as America's Mayor by Fox pundits.
This is not unlike how Murdoch's Fox News nicknames themselves America's Newsroom. This was a trick used by Hitler and Goebbels, using words and images to create the illusion that they, the Nazi Party [in this cae the Fox Nation with red, white and blue colors] was the same as the state - and thus represented all that was right and just. But remember - just because Murdoch's Fox News says it's so - doesn't make it so [like they used to call themselves 'Fair & Balanced' before they started fearing a lawsuit for false advertising]. But, the Australian born billionaire's overwhelming control and / or ownership of America's television media [see our special section on Murdoch and the 21st Propaganda Press on Gotham Buzz] does give him a leg up in attaching and making both good and bad labels stick to people, places and things.
On Wednesday, January 6, 2021, Rudy Giuliani joined Donald Trump and Donny junior at a Trump rally in Washington, D.C. near the White House. The Donald had promoted this gathering as something 'wild' and related to his seemingly phony stop the steal / election fraud fundraising claims. At the rally Trump told his supporters, numbering about 5,000 [per the park permit] to march down to the Capitol and that he'd be there with them.
I think it's safe to say that the Trump supporters who came to this event came prepared to continue to be misinformed and misled by the con men standing on the stage in front of them. After the speeches the audience mindlessly did as Trump had instructed them, and began marching toward the Capitol - but without their fearful leader [bonespurs acting up again?]. The Trumps and Giuliani were not to be found when the group arrived at the Capitol. What a surprise!
When the Trumpsters reached the barricades in front of the Capitol, the police in charge of protecting it, seemed to give way. What exactly transpired at this juncture we'll find out eventually, but one thing we do know for certain is that Trump didn't deploy as many of the National Guardsmen as he did for his tear gassing photo op with the Bible last summer. So Vice President Mike Pence had to step in to call up more National Guardsmen who eventually secured the Capitol - but not until after it had been ransacked [including one report of defecation].
Trump is Battling the Election Results Like He's Battled CoVid, his Trump-Sized Budget Deficit & Climate Change - Ignore the Facts & Change the Perception
A Sore Loser, Poor Sport & a Rich Old Man's Tantrum?
Donald Trump has never comported himself with any dignity or decency befitting the presidency - so why would anyone expect his presidency to end with it?
Except the low information, no information and disinformation voters who cling to him like he's some sort of savior.
We saw this same sort of phenomena occur in the 1930's and 1940's in Germany. That was a story that didn't end well for that nation - and it would have been far, far worse - were it not for the decency and generosity of the American people.
By all accounts, Biden is the likely victor of the 2020 presidential race. He leads in electoral college votes and it appears he needs to close only one or two more states to finish the race, which in most remaining states and by most accounts, seem to be trending in his favor.
America's Top Fixer, Rudy Schmooliani, Fresh Out of Improv Role in Borat2, Returns to Star Role in the TV Presidency of DJT
The Trump Campaign began pulling out all stops to halt the fair part of the American electoral process, by summoning America's Fixer, Rudy Giuliani, to lead the litigation publicity program.
Schmooliani had just finished filming his cameo role in Borat 2, but wasted no time in zipping up his pants again, before departing for Philadelphia to make an important stage appearance in the Epilogue segment of the TV Presidency of DJT.
In the photo at right, a still shot taken from the film Borat 2, shows Rudy Giuliani making 'an adjustment to his microphone'. I do hope Rudy washed his hands after tampering with his 'microphone', as these days one can never be sure of what kind of bacterial or viral germs one might be exposed to by touching things.
Kentucky Insanity: Voting Repeatedly for Mitch McConnell & Expecting Things to Change
Kentucky Has the 6th Highest Poverty Rate, Ranks 46th in Healthcare, 44th in Education & 45th in Income While
McConnell’s Leadership Enriches Him & his Taiwanese Born Wife, so that Mitch is Now in the Top Ten Wealthiest Senators Club
October 26, 2020 Updated from 10/13 & 10/21/20 / NYC Neighborhoods / U.S. Politics / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz NYC.
Monday night Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell squared off against challenger former Lieutenant Colonel Amy McGrath. She, along with another woman, were the first females assigned to the Marine All Weather Attack Squadron.
Televised debates these days, seem to shed little light on the candidates or issues. This may be in part due to the format of them, as well as the failure of the debate moderators to hold the candidates' feet to the fire by pressing them on tough questions, and the current climate of conversational corruption where politicians pretty much say whatever the hell they want to say ... regardless of the truth.
So I did some of my own digging to learn more about Mitch McConnell. What I found surprised me, given how deep the rabbit hole goes and yet how little attention has been given to one of the most powerful men in Washington. So it may surprise you too.
DEFINITION OF INSANITY - Repeatedly Doing the Same Thing Expecting a Different Result
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.
The image at right was found in a web magazine, Forward Kentucky earlier this year. Donald Trump fired FIVE inspectors and among them was one investigating McConnell's wife.
What are they afraid of ... the truth?
And that is exactly what Kentuckians appear to have been doing for decades, having reportedly voted for Mitch in various elections approximately THIRTY TIMES in a row.
Let’s take a look.
RICH MITCH - McConnell is the Longest [Self?] Serving Republican Leader in Senate History
In June 2018, Mitch McConnell became the longest ‘serving’ Senate Republican Leader in the history of the Senate.
McConnell has been a Kentucky Senator for nearly 36 years, having first taken office in January 1985.
He’s been the Republican Senate Majority Leader for nearly six years - since January 2015, and the Republican Senate Minority Leader since January 2007 – another eight years and Republican Senate Majority Whip from 2003 - 2007.
And he’s been ‘serving’ Kentucky as a senator since 1985.
POOR KENTUCKY - Kentucky Ranks Near the Bottom in Education, Healthcare and Income
And yet Kentucky has little to show for Mitch's length of service – even though Mitch McConnell keeps telling them how good is for them, as he’s been a member of the elite Republican Leadership for decades.
But McConnell he likes to tell Kentuckians - he's the only top federal political leader who is not from one of the big urban centers on the coasts, even though he’s been living in Washington, D.C. for one helluva lot longer than he ever lived in Kentucky. And he’s married to a Taiwanese born millionairess who has never lived in Kentucky, per se, during the nearly three decades of their blissful married life.
So what difference does it make where Mitch McConnell claims he is from, if he’s not representing the people of Kentucky? But rather … representing the big corporate and foreign interests that appear to fund his campaigns and enrich – not the state of Kentucky – but their chosen one, their ‘representative’ Senate Majority Leader Republican Mitch McConnell.
NOT A NATIVE KENTUCKIAN - Why Alabama Born McConnell May not Care About Kentucky
I suspect part of the reason that Mitch McConnell doesn’t care that much about Kentucky, is because he wasn’t born there, and he mostly did not grow up there. McConnell was born in ALABAMA in 1942, and then – by way of GEORGIA – arrived in KENTUCKY in 1956 at age 14. I think it's worth mentioning that McConnell's great, great grandparents – on both sides - were Alabama slave owners, which we’ll get to shortly.
In 1968 McConnell left Kentucky for the big city, Washington, D.C., for a couple of years. He returned to Kentucky to run for office in 1971, but failed to meet the Kentucky residency requirement. In 1974 McConnell left Kentucky again for Washington, D.C. to work in the Ford Administration. Gerald Ford lost the election in 1976, so McConnell returned to Kentucky to run for office again. This time Kentuckians cut him a break and elected him the Jefferson County Executive, an office he held until he was elected in 1984 to ‘represent’ them as a senator, at which time he departed Kentucky for Washington, D.C. where he's been ever since.
So all tolled, McConnell only spent about 24 years in Kentucky [1984-1956=28-2-2=24], which is not even a third of his 78 years of life. And McConnell has spent 36 years ‘representing’ Kentuckians in the big city of Washington, D.C. – where he has lived half again as much time, as he has lived in Kentucky. So while Mitch doesn’t appear to represent Kentuckians – one has to ask how could he - given he has spent so little time there and it was what seems a lifetime ago?
McConnell Received Educational Deferment from Military, Followed by Medical Exemption for Optic Neuritis – Not Polio
According to Wikipedia, after McConnell’s educational deferment from the military expired in 1967, McConnell ‘served’ about a month. The same report tells us McConnell was diagnosed with optic neuritis – a temporary inflammation in the eye that can cause temporary blindness. According to a few Google searches, optic neuritis is a common eye problem that self resolves in about four to 12 weeks. There are severe cases of it, but given McConnell is 78 years old and we’ve heard nary a word of it since his getting out of military service, I suspect his case was 'mild’, not unlike Trump's CoVid case. McConnell is also said to have contracted polio, but apparently escaped any significant long term impairment, as we see him walking up and down the halls of the Capitol without a problem.
MONEY BAGS MITCH - McConnell Supported by Chinese, Russian & Australian Immigrants
In 1984 McConnell became a Kentucky Senator. And while most Kentuckians don’t like him and neither do most Americans – Australian born billionaire Rupert Murdoch’s soon to be media executive, Roger Ailes, ran McConnell's first campaign. Murdoch seems to have been influential in rolling back media regulations beginning around that time, so it wouldn't be a big leap to assume that McConnell helped Murdoch feather his nest through regulatory rollbacks, while Murdoch helped keep McConnell in place as an enabler in hacking through the regulatory environment which had previously held large media corporations in check. Murdoch controls Fox News, the NY Post, the Wall St Journal and in 2019 became the largest shareholder of Disney / ABC in an inverted takeover.
We'll zoom in on why the rich Chinese and Russian born immigrants started backing Mitch McConnell a little further in the story.
McConnell Sells Out or Trades in his Old Kentucky Home?
McConnell was married to a Kentucky woman, Sherrill Redmon, from 1968 [around the time of his military deferment] to 1980 [around the time he was re-elected but a few years before he hit the big time as a senator beginning in 1984]. In the early years in Kentucky McConnell was considered a liberal leaning moderate [his ex-wife and one or more of his daughters still seem to lean more toward the middle, having oppposed the Brett Kavanaugh SCOTUS confirmation].
But McConnell's views seemed to quickly change after he hired Roger Ailes, [who later became Fox News CEO], to run his 1984 Senate campaign. This was followed by McConnell 's social climbing upward mobility when he met and married his new Chinese American wife, who connected his campaign to a multi-million dollar money train. Taiwanese born Elaine Chao's mega millionaire father is well connected to the Chinese Communist Party Leadership, owns a Chinese American Shipping Company, and he and her family have donated millions to McConnell, as well as his and Republican PACs.
The Decade McConnell Went From Kentucky Mitch to Shanghai Mitch
Following the 1984 election Rolling Stone story reports McConnell,
“As I always say,” McConnell wrote in his book, “the three most important words in politics are ‘cash on hand.’ ”
Australian born Billionaire, Rupert Murdoch Seems to use the Wall St Journal, NY Post & Fox News to Create the Illusion that Trump has Some Sort of Economic Magic Touch, but the Truth is $6 Trillion in New Debt & $3 Trillion in Federal Reserve Bond Purchases
Few real journalists - if any - have ever honestly accused Rupert Murdoch and most of the large media brands he controls in our nation, of being bastions of truth. In fact, it would seem, quite the opposite - including by some of the people who work for him.
When Murdoch purchased the Wall Street Journal in 2007 [fact check], there were concerns that he would turn it into another one of his propaganda rags. Shortly after the acquisition, a number of Wall Street Journal reporters fled to Bloomberg News. In fact dozens of them. Those journalists that remained at the Wall Street Journal, had to learn how to operate for an Australian born billionaire who seems to delight in misleading the masses - rather than informing them - in order to profit from the audience's ignorance, to which Murdoch media appear to contribute greatly. Murdoch is kind of like a street hustler whose propagandists do sleight of tongue [hand] tricks, while his political accomplices [puppets like Trump & McConnell] pick the pockets of the audience [Americans].
Not Your Father's Wall Street Journal - A Murdoch Propaganda Rag?
This summer over 280 journalists at the Wall Street Journal, became concerned that Herr Murdoch - like Nazi propagandist Herr Goebbels before him - was corrupting the Wall Street Journal into a propaganda outlet, in advance of the election this November. While Murdoch's distortion of the truth in the Wall Street Journal appears to have been going on for years, the event that immediately precipitated the letter, was a misleading - even deceptive - Op Ed by Vice Presidential candidate Mike Pence.
In the letter they had a few simple requests. A July 21, 2020 report in the Wall St Journal states,
"... [The WSJ's] Opinion’s lack of fact-checking and transparency, and its apparent disregard for evidence, undermine our readers’ trust and our ability to gain credibility with sources ...”
" ... The letter cites several examples of concern, including a recent essay by Vice President Mike Pence about coronavirus infections ... "
“.. [and that] WSJ journalists should not be reprimanded for writing about errors published in Opinion ..."
"... suggests removing opinion pieces from the “Most Popular Articles” and “Recommended Videos” lists on the website, and creating a separate “Most Popular in Opinion” list..."
" ... letter highlighted was an opinion article titled “The Myth of Systemic Police Racism,” which the letter’s authors said was one of the paper’s most read articles in June. The article argued that the “charge of systemic police bias was wrong during the Obama years and remains so today.” The letter says the piece “selectively presented facts and drew an erroneous conclusion from the underlying data...”
i have reported on similar truth distortions by Rupert Murdoch's media, including Fox News, the NY Post and many other media outlets controlled by him in our section about Rupert Murdoch and the Rise of the 21st Century Propaganda Press, which you can find by clicking this link.
Triumph of The [Rupert's] Will: How Murdoch Manipulates Voter's Perceptions & Public Policy
Australian born Billionaire Appears to use his Media Outlets to Shape Voter's Views, Loading them with Misconceptions, So They'll Elect Compromised Fox Nation Pols, Who Upon Assuming Office, Seem to Reward Murdoch's Media Support, by Crafting Public Policy to Conform to Murdoch's Will, Favoring his Business Interests
As mentioned previously, I've been doing a fairly deep dive into learning as much about the Third Reich and Nazi Germany as time permits, in order to more fully understand what's happening in present day events.
Media Manipulation for Fun & Profit
I began noticing similarities between Australian born billionaire Rupert Murdoch's manipulative use of his large share of Amerian media in 2016, to what Joseph Goebbels, the Reich Minister of Propaganda for the Nazis, did beginning in the 1920's until his end in 1945. On May 1, 1945 Goebbels poisoned his children, his wife and himself as the Allied forces neared his home. Hitler and his companions had committed suicide the day before, as Allied forces invaded Berlin. None of them had the courage to stand trial for their crimes against humanity ... although like Mussolini, they may not have made it to court.
1. Did Fox 'News' Attempt to Protect the Reputation of a Propaganda Asset via Omission?
So today, we're going to look at just a few of Murdoch's media manipulations made in just the past couple of months - and I'm nearly certain that this is just the tip of the iceberg. Unfortunately, I don't have the resource to fact check what is the largest misleading news content producing organization in the nation, and possibly the free world.
Let's start with the first two photos on this page. This story broke in the Guardian on July 7, 2020.
The first photo shows Fox News 'reporting the news' regarding the sexcapades of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislane Maxwell. In the first photo, Fox News conveniently cropped out Donald Trump. In the second photo [at right] we have the 'full picture' aka the truth.
The man who calls everyone else a 'sleezeball' is seen with Melania 'being best', and two of the people alleged to be among some of the sleeziest on the planet [Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislane Maxwell]. Do birds of a feather flock together?
So we must ask why Rupert Murdoch would crop Donald Trump out of the photo? Is it to avoid portraying the Donald in a negative light in order to keep him - a Murdoch asset - in office?
Trump appears to have been a boon to billionaire Murdoch through massive billionaire tax cuts funded by debt to be paid for by America's children and unborn? Or is because Trump's actions in the Middle East vis a visIsrael seemed to serve to legitimize Murdoch's investment in Genie Energy in the illegally occupied Syrian Golan Heights? Or was it because Trump loosened up the FCC ownership limits for mega media companies like Murdoch's thus allowing the few to control our media, which givens them the power to influence the national democratic conversation - and in Murdoch's case - it seems the power to corrupt it in order to profit from it. Or was it because Trump famously fired all U.S. Attorneys, including Preet Bharara - who was investigating Murdoch's companies for sexual harrassment and phone hacking - less than 24 hours after Sean Hannity on Fox News told him to do just that? Perhaps most importantly, Trump's Attorney General Bill Barr, greenlighted the merger of Disney / ABC, which was an inverted takeover resulting in Rupert Murdoch becoming Disney / ABC's largest shareholder.
Andrew Cuomo and his wealthy corporate backers appear to have won him a third term as NYS Governor. The win reportedly cost them over $21 million – thus reducing the the return on their political investment by requiring a significant upfront payment.
But you needn’t worry about Cuomo or his wealthy corporate backers, as campaign contributions are reportedly very good investments, providing returns that range from modest to excessive. Do a search for studies conducted in 2004 by Harvard University, and in 2017 by Kellogg Graduate Business School at Northwestern for greater detail.
The photo at right shows voters on Thursday evening, September 13th, signing in to cast their votes.
Cuomo Defeats Nixon - Voting Interest Nearly Triples vs 2014
With 99% of the precincts reporting, Andrew Cuomo won 975,552 votes to Cynthia Nixon’s 511,585 votes – that’s 65.6% for Cuomo and 34.4% for Nixon. Nixon won many of the counties surrounding Albany, Tompkins County and Lewis County near Syracuse.
Cuomo won the rest of the state, but won by smaller margins in Manhattan and Brooklyn, while winning by wider margins in the other boroughs. Please note that the September 13, 2018 election totals and percentages shown in this story were reported by the New York Times this morning. The contextual and historical figures and percentages were reported by a multitude of other generally reliable sources.
In the photo at right is Andrew Cuomo marching in the June LGBT parade in the West Village of Manhattan in a prior year.
Had Cuomo only won as many votes as he'd secured in the 2014 primary against Zephyr Teachout, Nixon would have trounced him. In 2014 Andrew Cuomo received 327,150 votes to Zephyr Teachout's tally of 180,336 votes, with the percentages reflecting about the same as this year [64% / 36%] - but the ad spending by the Cuomo campaign was up significantly and so were the vote tallies on both sides. Thus in 2018, almost three times as many voters showed up at the polls during the primary election, but as you will see below - that's still only about 10% of the total potential electorate.
Cuomo Outspends Nixon by 8:1 - Pays $21 per Vote
Andrew Cuomo’s campaign reportedly spent over $21 million this year, versus Cynthia Nixon’s $2.5 million. Thus Cuomo outspent Nixon by over eight to one. And Cuomo's campaign spending in the primary of 2014 was reportedly under $10 million, thus translating into a doubling of what corporations and wealthy donors must pay to keep Cuomo in office.
Campaign Contributions by the Rich Few, Beat the Multitude of Small Contributions of the Middle and Working Classes
Nixon reportedly received donations from 43,000 individual contributors [reportedly a state record], while Cuomo received donations from well under 4,000 contributors. This is why campaign finance reform will never happen with the same people in office [regardless of whether they are Democrats or Republicans] – because while the system may not be working for the people, it is certainly working for the pols and their donors.
The way things work today - pols appear to receive campaign contributions from corporate / wealthy donors who appear to essentially ‘buy’ the office. And then the corporate / wealthy donors appear to be able to pass or block legislation with the help of the pols they supported. As for the government by the people and for the people – well that only happens if the people pay attention to what’s going on, get involved in the political process, and show up to vote.
A quote that was attributed to Jefferson, appears to have originated from Reagan, seems appropriate here: A people that believes they may be ignorant and free, believes in something that never was and never will be.
In the photo at right are Jumaane Williams, candidate for Lieutenant Governor and Cynthia Nixon, candidate for Governor at a June rent rally on the steps of the NYC Public Library on 5th Avenue just south of 42nd Street.
The Real News is How Few Participate in our Democracy
Approximately 1.5 million New Yorkers showed up to vote yesterday – in a state with a population of nearly 20 million. In the 2016 census report, 15.7 million New Yorkers were eligible voting age citizens – so about 10% of the potential electorate decided this electoral primary outcome. Honestly it’s shameful, especially when you take note of the fact that people in Russia and China are literally risking their lives / freedom to enable people participation in the process of choosing those who make the laws, establish and enforce public policy and control the government apparatus.
The Lieutenant Governor’s race was closer, as Jumaane Williams put in a solid performance winning 640,530 votes to Kathy Hochul’s 731,459 votes. Hochul won 53.3% of the vote to Jumaane Williams’s 46.7% of the vote. Williams won big in Brooklyn [his home], Manhattan, Columbia and Tompkins Counties, losing the rest of the state.
What I found surprising here, is that the Bronx which is mostly Latin and African American, went for Hochul instead of Williams who is an African American. I surmised that this was likely made possible through the efforts of the establishment Democratic party apparatus, which is controlled by Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.
NYS Attorney General Race - James Defeats Teachout & Maloney who Split the Upstate White Vote
Letitia James won the Attorney General position, beating out Zephyr Teachout and Sean Patrick Maloney. James received 578,412 votes to Teachout’s 441,567 votes and Maloney’s 356,602 votes. The percentages were James with 41.6%, Teachout with 31% and Maloney with 25% of the vote. James won all of the boroughs of New York City, the two counties on Long Island, as well as Westchester and Rockland counties [the latter two counties are suburban outreaches of NYC].
Teachout won most of the eastern part of the state running from north of Westchester to the Canadian border – including most of the counties around Albany, while Maloney won most of the western part of the state, and a couple of counties just north of Westchester. Teachout and Maloney appear to have split the upstate White vote.
In the photo at right, Letitia James, candidate for NYS Attorney General at a community function in Queens, earlier this year.
No IDC NY Candidates Trounce Most of the Former IDC Members
One of the big issues to be decided during this primary season was the fate of the nine Democrats who had caucused with the Republicans, thereby giving the Republicans majority control of the NYS Senate. Eight of the senators became members of the Independent Democratic Caucus [IDC] which was founded by Bronx NYS Senator Jeffrey Klein, only a year or two into Cuomo’s first term. The creation of the IDC was said to be with the tacit approval of Andrew Cuomo, so that the NYS Governor could prevent the Democratic agenda from becoming too progressive.
Prior to the beginning of the 2018 primary season, an all-volunteer group formed, calling themselves the No IDC NY. The No IDC NY set as its mission, to dislodge those Democrats who had caucused with the Republicans. The No IDC NY effort proved fairly successful, as six of the nine Democrats who had caucused with the Republicans, were defeated. The following is a short tally of those races.
In the photo at right, Zephyr Teachout endorsing Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, just as Teachout was making her candidacy for the office of NYS Attorney General known.
Queens NYS Senate Races
In the NYS Senate in Queens. No IDC NY supported candidate John Liu defeated incumbent Tony Avella in Queens with 53% to 47% of the vote. No IDC NY supported candidate Jessica Ramos trounced incumbent Jose Peralta with 55% to 45% of the vote.
Manhattan NYS Senate Races
In the NYS Senate in Manhattan. No IDC NY supported candidate Robert Jackson handily defeated incumbent Marisol Alcantera in the Washington Heights / Inwood area with 56% versus 39% of the vote.
Bronx NYS Senate Races
In the NYS Senate in the Bronx. No IDC NY supported candidate Alessandra Biaggi decisively defeated the IDC Founder incumbent Jeffrey Klein winning 54% of the vote to Klein’s 46%.
Brooklyn & Staten Island NYS Senate Races
In the NYS Senate in Brooklyn & Staten Island. No IDC NY supported candidate Zellnor Myrie defeated incumbent Jesse Hamilton 54% to 46%. But both incumbent Diane Savino of Staten Island and incumbent Simcha Felder of Brooklyn handily defeated their No IDC NY supported challengers. Incumbent Savino won 67% of the vote to No IDC NY supported candidate Jasmine Robinson’s 21% of the vote and incumbent Simcha Felder won 66% of the vote to No IDC NY supported candidate Blake Morris’s 34% of the vote.
Upstate NYS Senate Races
In the NYS Senate in Upstate NY. No IDC NY supported candidate Rachel May won 52% of the vote to incumbent David Valesky’s 48%. But incumbent David Carlucci held onto his seat with 54% of the vote to No IDC NY supported candidate Julie Goldberg’s 46%.
Jeff Klein's IDC: Republicans Running as Dems?
The Independent Democratic Caucus Aligns with Republicans which Enables Republicans to Control the NYS Senate
There's an NYS State primary election this month. The primaries will be held on Thursday, September 13th; instead of on Tuesday, September 11th, in recognition of 911. And the general election will be held on Tuesday, November 6th.
As in any year, the elections are important, but perhaps made more so this year, by what appears to be the anarchistic destruction and disrespect, for our government institutions and processes, by Republican President Donald Trump.
Trump Republicans: Debt Bomb Deficits Levied on America's Children to Enrich the Richest?
The Donald passed a stimulus tax bill that is expected to increases the deficit by $1.5 trillion over the next ten years, and there are some pundits who put the figure higher. He and the Republicans passed this budget busting stimulus tax bill, while the economy was operating at levels considered above a full employment economy [5% unemployment is considered standard / normal] and at a time when wages were rising over 2%.
Inflation above 2% is considered to be detrimental to economic stability by the Federal Reserve, so stimulating the economy while it's at full employment with rising wages is about the opposite of what makes sense, especially when you consider the funding for it is coming from America's children and most of the benefits for it are going to the wealthiest people on the planet. We posted a report analyzing the Trump Tax Reform Bill slightly before it was finalized, which includes a lot of facts and figures to help provide context to better understand what was in the bill they passed.
The Independent Democratic Caucus Aligns with NYS Senate Republicans & Gives Them Control
In 2010 / 2011 NYS Senator Jeffrey Klein broke away from the Democratic Party and formed the Independent Democratic Caucus which aligns with the Republican Party, thereby giving them control of the NYS Senate. The effect of this is that bills passed by the Democratic controlled NYS Assembly are indefinitely tabled, or in lay man's terms pretty much killed, in the Republican-controlled NYS Senate. The Republicans control the NYS Senate, because eight NYS senators who run as Democrats [IDC Independent Democratic Caucus], either vote with or kill bills with the Republicans.
Democratic NYS Assembly Bills Effectively Killed by IDC
According to the Democratic Senate Conference, the Republican controlled NYS Senate - with the help of their Republicans running as Democrats allies - have effectively killed one education bill providing full day kindergarten funding, three wage / leave bills, four voting rights bills including the allowance of early voting, four immigration bills including one related to the DREAM Act, four housing bills including several pertaining to NYC rent laws that help renters, three criminal justice bills including creation of correctional ombudsman and sealing of marijuana possession records [as marijuana is rapidly being legalized in states across the country], one related to LGBTQ issues, and six regarding healthcare, several of which pertain to women's reproductive rights.
The IDC Deception: REPUBLICANS RUNNING AS DEMOCRATS?
The net effect of this is that Democrats are, in a sense, cheated or tricked out of their majority by what appears to be Republicans running as Democrats. The Independent Democratic Caucus or IDC includes Jeffrey Klein of the Bronx, who founded the IDC, David Valesky of Oneida and Madison Counties in upstate New York, David Carlucci of Rockland and Westchester Counties, Diane Savino of Staten Island / Brooklyn, Tony Avella of Queens, Jose Peralta of Queens, Jesse Hamilton of Brooklyn, and Marisol Alcantera of Washington Heights / Manhattan. Simcha Felder of Brooklyn also runs as a Democrat and caucuses with the Republicans.
The following is a list of challengers, eight of which I obtained off the NoIDCNY.org website. For some reason Blake Morris - Simcha Felder's challenger - was not included on their website. I have just contacted them to find out why.
Jessica Ramos is challenging Jose Peralta in District 13 in Queens.
John Liu is challenging Tony Avella* in District 11 in Queens.
Robert Jackson is challenging Marisol Alcantera in District 31 in Washington Heights / Inwood / Manhattan.
Alessandra Biaggi is challenging Jeff Klein in District 34 in the Bronx.
Zellnor Myrie is challenging Jesse Hamilton in District 20 in Brooklyn.
Blake Morris is challenging Simcha Felder in District 17 in Brooklyn.
Jasmine Robinson is challenging Diane Savino in District 23 in Brooklyn / Staten Island.
Julie Goldberg is challenging David Carlucci in District 38 in nearby upstate New York.
Rachel May is challenging David Valesky in District 53 in upstate New York.
* A Word About NYS Senator Tony Avella as He Appears to be a Real Independent
Of all of the IDC candidates listed above, NYS Senator Tony Avella deserves special consideration. NYS Senator Avella CHALLENGED Republican Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Queens Country Democratic Party Chairman Joe Crowley when both of these men, and many in their parties, supported real estate developments in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Queens Borough President Melinda Katz took a position that appeared somewhere between supportive of the developments to - at best - indifferent.
NYS Senator Avella advocated on behalf of the community to thwart billionaire and mega millionaire real estate developers from grabbing Queens parkland - AND WON. In doing this, NYS Senator Tony Avella, appears to be more likea Maverick or Independent, resembling legislators like deceased U.S. Senator John McCain (Republican) and U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (Democrat), both of whom have charted their own path through party-dominated politics.
Avella is an important independent voice in the Queens, NYC and NYS community, which the Democrats in his district will have to decide whether or not to keep.
I just received an email notifying me of simultaneous rallies which will be held by IDC [Independent Democratic Caucus] member CHALLENGERS within the NYC Metro area. The members of the IDC, who these challengers are rallying against, have been caucusing with the Republicans since 2010 / 2011. By caucusing with the Republicans, the IDC Democrats have provided Republicans with a majority in the NYS Senate. Thus the IDC members appear to be Republicans running as Democrats on the Democratic ticket.
The IDC CHALLENGERrallies are intended to inform the electorate as to how their IDC electeds have been (mis?) representing them - as well as how the challengers would like to represent them - should they be given the chance.
"In an unprecedented show of strength and unity following the release of their joint statement about their agenda, the candidates will set forth their visions for their districts and will enlist those present at the rallies in registering voters, canvassing, and the like in preparation for the Thursday, September 13, 2018 primary election."
"The rallies will explain the need to replace the former IDC members with true blue Democrats whom we can trust not to turn their backs on the people who elected them. The IDC may have rejoined the Democrats for now, but they've been willing to ally themselves with the GOP since 2011 - and they've claimed to return to the Democratic fold before. The damage is done and we will not forget. New York deserves REAL Democrats who stand for progressive values, not Trump Democrats."
SUNDAY Rally Details:
Blue Wave Rally for Jessica Ramos, April 29, 2 PM, 31-04 Ditmar Blvd., Intersection at 31st Street Astoria, Queens.
Blue Wave Rally for Alessandra Biaggi, April 29, 2-3 PM, Memorial Grove in Van Cortland Park, Bronx. Memorial Grove is located in Van Cortlandt Park, near West 246 Street between Broadway and the Van Cortlandt Mansion - see map above.
Blue Wave Rally for Robert Jackson, April 29, 1:30-2:30 PM, at Bennett Park, W 183rd St & Fort Washington Avenue, Manhattan.
Blue Wave Rally for Rachel May, April 29, 2-3 PM, State Office Building, 301 East Washington Street, Syracuse.
Blue Wave Rally for Zellnor Myrie, April 29, 2-3 PM, at the Prospect Park subway stop, on Lincoln Avenue between Flatbush and Ocean Avenues, Brooklyn.
Blue Wave Rally for Jasmine Robinson, April 29, 2-3 PM, at Tappen Park, Staten Island (near the Stapleton SIR stop).
Blue Wave Rally to Make NY True Blue in SD38, April 29, 2-3, at 20 South Main Street, New City, NY
Blue Wave Rally to Make NY True Blue in SD21, April 29, 2-3 PM, Bell Boulevard at 73rd Avenue, Oakland Gardens, Queens
Press contacts:
Rise and Resist: Claire Ullman, 917-679-7120
True Blue NY: Lisa DellAquila, co-leader, 917-991-0605
Jackson campaign: Harris Doran, 917-797-6180
Myrie campaign: Andre Richardson (campaign manager), 201-892-5829, andrerichardson@gmail.com
Robinson campaign: Jane Nixon Willis, 914-584-2833; improvised3@gmail.com
Melissa Mark-Viverito, Jumaane Williams, Daniel O'Donnell, Rafael Espinal, Eric Ulrich, Nomiki Konst, Ron Kim, Michael Blake & 9 Others are Running for this Office
Tomorrow, Tuesday, February 26th, 2019 a few New Yorkers will go to the polls to select the next NYC Public Advocate.
Brief NYC Public Advocate History
The position was created in 1993, by renaming the office of the President of the City Council, which up until 1989, had held a seat on the New York City Board of Estimate until it was abolished that year.
The Public Advocate has a relatively small budget [under $4 million per year], a small department as measured by headcount and no voting power except in the cases where a deciding vote needs to be cast in the City Council. The real power of the Public Advocate is in that person's ability to influence the conversation regarding policy priorities and urgency.
Second in Line to Mayor de Blasio
And with Mayor de Blasio considering a run for the presidency - while quite a long shot at this point - the Public Advocate would be next in line to succeed him. There have been only four Public Advocates since the post was created, starting with Mark Green who made a run for Mayor and lost. Betsy Gotbaum followed Green, and she was followed by Bill de Blasio who managed to use the position as a spring board to win the Mayoralty. Letitia James succeeded de Blasio and she is now the NYS Attorney General. The City Council Speaker has been the interim Public Advocate since James took office in January 2019, and will give up the post following this election.
We work very hard to help keep you informed by providing you with independent news coverage, as well as information about events in the arts, culture and business in the borough.
You can help us continue to provide you with independent, first-person, fact-based, contextural reporting by purchasing an annual subscription. As it's voluntary, there are a variety of price options, one of which should fit within your budget.
June 2, 2023 / 
Saturday through Sunday, May 13 - June 11, 2023 - Dance Africa Festival at BAM - At 30 Lafayette Avenue at Ashland Place - in the Peter Jay Sharp Building and Howard Gilman Opera House in the Brooklyn Academy of Music in Fort Greene neighborhood of Brooklyn. It's a performance festival featuring African culture. Tickets start at $35 for adults and $22 for kids. For details see www.bam.org. This is NOT a street fair, but there is a bazaar day, but it is mostly musical, theatrical and cultural dance performances.
Thursday, May 25 - Sunday, June 11, 2023 there's the SI Mall Carnival at the Staten Island Mall at 2655 Richmond Avenue in the Heartland Village / New Springville neighborhoods of Staten Island. The carnival which includes rides, prize games and food is open weekdays from 5 to 10 pm, opening at 1 pm on Saturdays & Sundays and Memorial Day. Tickets are $5 for entry, and $30 weekdays and $38 weekends per person for unlimited rides and $100 / $125 for four persons unlimited rides weekdays / weekends. For details see - https://www.statenislandmall.com
May 26, 2023 / 
Additional Memorial Day Weekend events [see link below for Manhattan Fleet Week events] coming throughout the weekend.
Saturday through Sunday, May 13 - June 11, 2023 - Dance Africa Festival at BAM - At 30 Lafayette Avenue at Ashland Place - in the Peter Jay Sharp Building and Howard Gilman Opera House in the Brooklyn Academy of Music in Fort Greene neighborhood of Brooklyn. It's a performance festival featuring African culture. Tickets start at $35 for adults and $22 for kids. For details see www.bam.org. This is NOT a street fair, but there is a bazaar day, but it is mostly musical, theatrical and cultural dance performances.
Saturday, May 27, 2023 - Orchard Beach Opens for the Summer.
May 19, 2023 / 
May 16, 2023 / Staten Island Neighborhoods / Staten Island Swimming Pools, Parks & Sports / Staten Buzz NYC.
In 2017 I attended a Community Board meeting in Astoria where our urban planners talked about 
February 28, 2023 / 
January 5, 2023 / 
January 1, 2023 / 
As you likely heard, we are in the midst of experiencing a 'tripledemic'. The triple refers to CoVid, flu and RSV. RSV is short for respiratory syncytial virus, which is a virus that causes symptoms like those associated with a cold, but which can cause serious negative health issues for infants and the elderly. As usual, the TV news teleprompter readers and their writers appear to report whatever they're told, without actually thinking about the information they're conveying. And since they're in the business of attracting viewers' and readers' attention, they seem to have a tendency to sensationalize almost everything they report, including the weather.
So, when I heard that the strike was actually happening on Thursday late afternoon, I dropped everything and headed down to the New York Times office building in Midtown Manhattan. I had a hunch that the strikers would be disbanding - if not gone - by the time the TV news ended at 7 pm. 
December 23, 2022 / 
November 18, 2022 / 
October 28, 2022 / 
October 26, 2022 / Local Government & Politics / National Government & Politics / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz NYC.
October 21, 2022 / 
October 14, 2022 / 
October 7, 2022 / 
Saturday, October 8, 2022 rescheduled from October 1 [weather] from 10 am - 5 pm The Fall for Arts Festival was to return to Roosevelt Island. In Southpoint Park at FDR Four Freedoms Park on the Rivercross Lawn on Roosevelt Island. A day full of activities for everyone including murals painting, arts & crafts, musical performances and food vendors. Free.
September 30, 2022 / 
Friday & Saturday , September 30 - October 1 2022 from 4 pm - 8 pm and 11 am - 8 pm respectively - Downtown Brooklyn Arts Festival. In the Plaza at 300 Ashland Place at the corner of Lafayette and Flatbush. This event will feature live music, dance, talks and theater. There might be some shopping, but that doesn't appear to be the focus. Downtown Brooklyn street fairs / festivals nyc. www.dbartsfestival.org/
September 23, 2022 / 
On Saturday, the Global Citizen Concert returns to the Great Lawn in Central Park which lies between 5th Avenue and Central Park West and between 72nd Street and 86th Street. The gates open at 2 pm and the concert begins at 4 pm. You must bring printed tickets as mobile tickets are not being accepted. Admission $250 - $299 via www.ticketmaster.com. For further details on the concert see https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/festival/nyc/2022/
NYC Weather. The temperature highs will be in the low 80's on Tuesday & Wednesday, dropping to the low 70's on Thursday and the mid 60's on Friday., The temperature lows will rise from the mid 60's on Monday & Tuesday to the low 70's on Wednesday, and then fall into the mid to low 50's on Thursday and Friday. The winds will be 10 - 15 mph all week. The humidity will be 55% - 65% all week, except on Friday when it falls to 45% - 55%. There's a small chance of a small amount of rain in Thursday, with the probability gone by mid afternoon.
Thursday through Sunday, September 15 - 18, 2022 from 6 - 10 pm Thursday & Friday, 5 - 11 pm on Saturday and 1 - 10 pm on Sunday - Hellenic Orthodox Traditionalist Church of America [St Markella] celebrates patron feast day with traditional Greek food and unique arts and crafts. Along 22-68 26th Street between 22nd & 23rd Avenues in Astoria.
Friday, Saturday & Sunday, September 16 - 18, 2022 from 2 - 10 pm, 12 noon - 10 pm & 12 noon - 7 pm respectively. Holy Cross Greek Cultural Festival [please note that these times are from last year and may have changed / no update has been provided prior to this post]. At 8401 Ridge Blvd between 84th and 86th Streets. This is primarily a Greek food and cultural festival. Brooklyn street fairs in the Bay Ridge neighborhood of Brooklyn.
Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays in September of 2022 from 6pm to 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and 1pm to 9pm on Sundays - Piazza di Belmont - Outdoor dining on Arthur Avenue which will be closed to vehicular traffic from East 188th Street to Crescent Avenue during the above mentioned times.
September 13, 2022 / 
Things To Do in Queens NYC
September 2, 2022 / 
August 26, 2022 / 
August 20, 2022 / 
August 12, 2022 / .jpeg)
August 9, 2022 / 
In New York City, monkey pox cases have risen to 1,965 according to the NYC government, so NYC represents between a fifth and a quarter of the total in the U.S. About 90% of the cases have been found in the gay community, but like HIV / AIDs, while it appears to be predominantly transmitted between gay men, anyone can catch it.
Over the course of the past few months, I've noticed a healthy return of the tourism trade based on what I've been seeing and hearing as I walk the streets and take public transit.
The pandemic changed most of our lives in some fashion, while turning many people's lives completely upside down for a while. Many service businesses, like restaurants and hotels, saw a huge falloff in business. The airline industry and other transit businesses took a huge hit. The live entertainment industry, such as we see on Broadway, faded to black - meaning it nearly completely shut down.
August 5, 2022 / 
July 29, 2022 / 
Summer is in full swing. A number of community groups in collaboration with the NYC Parks Department and frequently some measure of government funding, have put together a summer full of free summer movies in the parks. The free movie events listed below are designed for young and old alike and they're FREE.
June 24, 2022 / 
August 12, 2022 / 
Summer is in full swing. A number of community groups in collaboration with the NYC Parks Department and frequently some measure of government funding, have put together a summer full of free summer theater in the parks. The free theatre events listed below are designed for young and old alike and they're FREE.
On March 17, 2022 the NYS CoVid general restrictions under the H.E.R.O. Act expired. The expiration did not include the masks mandate requirement on NYC & NYS public transit. 
May 29, 2022 / 
In the photo at right is just one of thousands of artworks for sale in a prior year at the Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibit which begins Saturday and runs through Monday.
May 17, 2022 / 
May 3, 2022 / 
April 29, 2022 / 
April 13, 2022 / 
In Part VI, we're going to zoom into the current situation, looking at their wars are being financed, recent politics in both Russia and Ukraine, and popular support for the war in each nation.
April 4, 2022 /
See for yourself on these two WSJ pages before they hopefully have the decency or shame to take it down.
The current NYC vaccination rate is 77%, with another 9% having received at least one dose [86%]. The current NYS vaccination rate is 75%, with another 12% having received at least one dose [87%]. The current U.S. vaccination rate is 65%, with another 12% having received at least one dose [77%].
For the United States the same rates are 8% positive new cases [this is a week old number compared to the others herein], about 84,878 new cases, about 8,642 hospitalizations [this is a week old number compared to the others herein] and 1,964 daily deaths.
February 7, 2022 / 
As I walked and listened I looked around at all of the policemen gathered in honor of a fellow member of the fraternal order of policemen – not just of New York City but of NYS - and for that matter - the U.S. All of the police men and women were standing, some standing silently listening to the speeches, while others made small talk with each other, between the speeches, about their kids, their families, their jobs, their departments [homicide / detectives / street patrolmen], cars and boats, as well as chatting about which police department or organization they represented.
I noticed the badges sewn to their coats, representing Trenton and Teaneck New Jersey, Suffolk and Nassau Counties, New York State, and of course the NYPD, as well as a smattering of policemen from more distant communities. They projected a sense of sadness and courtesy, as I made my way through the crowd. I sensed that they must also have felt some measure of comfort, standing there, side by side with others like themselves, knowing that they are supported by so many others who share their sense of duty, ready to face down danger.
February 7, 2022 / 
The cost to us, the American people [the British and Australians as well] is that many critical issues are never properly addressed by the government officials selected by Murdoch, because his favored pols are generally chosen and supported based on what they will do for the totally self-serving billionaire - not the public. Hence Murdoch pols don't appear to reflect the people's will, but rather are chosen because Murdoch mass media outlets have manipulated the views of enough voters via their distorted daily Murdoch mass media 'news' intake, to enable Murdoch's favored pols to get elected. Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels employed these same kind of tactics, on an unsuspecting public, back in the early 1930's, in Germany.
Reining in the guns used in violent crime in NYC, is one of many such issues that seem to be given Murdoch's special brand of propagandistic 'news' treatment. Murdoch's news outlets' reports appear to pander to gun owners and the NRA [5.5 million members], who are outspoken and generally against gun control. According to a November 13, 2020 report by Gallup, about 32% of Americans own a gun and about 44% live in a household where there is a gun owner. Hence, gun owners represent a fairly sizeable block of Murdoch's mass media audience, and his news reports pander to them, just as the pander to other voting blocks that Murdoch media seek to manipulate.
January 28, 2022 / 
In Australia - where Murdoch has been operating all his life - former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd described, "Murdoch's media empire as a cancer on democracy" because of Murdoch media news omissions and distortions.
The NY Boat Show started on Wednesday and runs through Sunday, January 30, 2022 at the Javits Center at 655 West 34th Street [at 11th Avenue]. They're open 12 noon - 8 pm Friday, 10 am - 8 pm Saturday and 12 noon - 6 pm on Sunday. Tickets are $18 / $15 and CoVid protocols remain in effect.
Updated January 26 from 1/24/2022 / 
Last week, after several rounds of bidding, a consortium of investors, including SNL Comedians Pete Davidson & Colin Jost; Architect, Developer & Contractor Ron Castellano; and Night Club Owner Paul Italia purchased a 2,100 ton de-commissioned Staten Island ferry boat - the JFK - for $280,100. The purchase prices was only $100 above the next nearest bid, after the price doubled during the bidding process - up from $125,000 - after the starting bid had to be lowered from $250,000 because of a lack of early interest.
January 18, 2022 / 
The outlier in the year end crime stats, which were up slightly from 2020, was that thefts were down almost 19%. This may have something to do with the fact that fewer people are out and about, so thieves have fewer to prey upon and the victims have fewer distractions and events where thefts may occur.
January 3, 2022 / 
December 27, 2021 / 
How is it that network TV news, still a primary source of information in this nation - and the only source by many of the uneducated - can get a story so wrong?
In the graphic at right you see a headline from FT, which is the Financial Times of London, noting how something that should be common sense has become a political hot potato. At the end of this update on the Omicron variant, we'll take a look at how science and the truth are being distorted by millionaires and billionaire(s) in what appears an attempt to manipulate voters perceptions. The goal is to change the perceptions of their viewers enough, so their viewers will vote for the candidates chosen by the propaganda billionaire and his friends. The end game is, of course, getting the billionaire / propaganda machine selected pols into office, so they can fill their pockets with the taxpayers' money, and obtain legislative changes that are anti-democratic.
A testament to the Omicron variants transmissibility is that on Friday, December 17, 2021 NYS saw its highest number of new CoVid cases [21,027] in a single day since the pandemic began according to an New York Times report. In NYC the infection rate nearly doubled in just three days, rising from 3.9% to 7.8% from Thursday, December 9 to December 12, 2021 according to a December 16, 2021 NBC report.
The first Omicron virus case was first detected on November 8, 2021 in South Africa. The first case detected in the U.S. was in San Francisco on November 22, 2021. Four days later, on November 26, 2021, the World Health Organization [WHO] designated Omicron a CoVid variant [B1.1.529]. As of December 5, 2021 there were eight Omicron cases in NYS, most of which were found in NYC.
August 22, 2019 / Lighthouse Hill Neighborhood SI / Art & Culture Staten Island / 
March 2018 / Historic Richmond Town Neighborhood / Staten Island Culture & History / 
Lou told me that there were 15 buildings in Historic Richmond Town. He informed me that tours are given regularly by knowledgeable guides and that they take about an hour and fifteen minutes. The whole town lies on about one hundred acres. At some point in the conversation, one of the tour guides whose name I apparently didn't write down [please send it to me if you read this], joined us, and we continued conversing about Historic Richmond Town. In the photo at right is one of the tour guides of Historic Richmond Town on Staten Island.
Lou told me that there were 15 buildings in Historic Richmond Town. He informed me that tours are given regularly by knowledgeable guides and that they take about an hour and fifteen minutes. The whole town lies on about one hundred acres. At some point in the conversation, one of the tour guides whose name I apparently didn't write down [please send it to me if you read this], joined us, and we continued conversing about Historic Richmond Town. In the photo at right is one of the tour guides of Historic Richmond Town on Staten Island.
Staten Island Neighborhoods covered include - st george, snug harbor, west brighton, fort wadsworth, manor heights, clifton, mariners harbor, historic richmond town, south beach, tompkinsville, westerleigh, stapleton, port richmond and tottenville neighborhood on staten island nyc
August 31, 2021 / 
So we're going to take a look at a number of the NYC crime statistics, and then follow up with an analytical look at some of the issues driving gun related violence, before closing with a look at the distorted, deceitful and destructive coverage provided by Murdoch's Fox News & Propaganda.
The graphic at right shows what is called the 'Iron Pipeline' which is Interestate 95 which runs from New York to Florida. This interestate highway is used to transport guns / weapons across state lines from mostly red Republican controlled states with lax gun control laws to blue states that have passed stronger gun control laws.
August 9, 2021 / 
I found a chart that I found of great interest in an August 5, 2021 story in the Gothamist, which was acquired by NPR in 2018. The chart shows how the original CoVid is almost non-existent in the U.S. today, while the Delta variant has risen to represent over 90% of all new cases.
March 22, 2021 /
This just came in on the heels of our coverage of the Public Safety discussion below. Mayor de Blasio and NY Police Commissioner O'Neill spoke in the Bronx regarding ongoing efforts and results in improving safety in the city. The following are some of the crime statistics noted in their meeting taken directly out of a press release sent by them.
Somehow amidst the din of Murdoch mass media hyped criticism, the real headline was buried.
In the reporting over the past month or so I DID NOT SEE EVEN ONE REFERENCE TO THE RUSSIAN WITHDRAWAL from Afghanistan in the 1980’s. NOT ONE! Why does that matter?
Australian born billionaire, Rupert Murdoch - as is too often the case - led the rest of the mindless mass media, like the Pied Piper. On August 15, 2021, the Wall St. Journal published an OpEd by the ‘Editorial Board’. The ‘Editorial Board’ appears to be the pen name of billionaire Rupert Murdoch who owns and controls the paper. The ‘Editorial Board’ said published the narrative that Biden was incompetent and had messed things up, with scant reference to history or a holistic presentation of the facts.
August 3, 2021 / 
May 17, 2021 /
March 15, 2021 /
Dean Claims She's Not Politically Motivated, while Seeming to do a 'Soft Launch' of Her Campaign 2022 for NYS Governor on 'Free' Murdoch Media Infommercials
A December 12, 2020 report in the Wrap tells us that Janice Dean tweeted the following,
March 12, 2021 /
Why do I think the stench is coming from Murdoch's 21st Century & Newscorp and not the Governor's mansion? Because Murdoch's gang of mendacious multi-millionaire minions too often seem not to give a damn about reporting the truth - but rather about distorting and even fictionalizing it to stoke the ratings busting fires of discontent - by attacking government officials who seem not to give Murdoch what he wants from them.
On Wednesday, January 6, 2021, Rudy Giuliani joined Donald Trump and Donny junior at a Trump rally in Washington, D.C. near the White House. The Donald had promoted this gathering as something 'wild' and related to his seemingly phony stop the steal / election fraud fundraising claims. At the rally Trump told his supporters, numbering about 5,000 [per the park permit] to march down to the Capitol and that he'd be there with them.
September 4, 2020 / 
So today, we're going to look at just a few of Murdoch's media manipulations made in just the past couple of months - and I'm nearly certain that this is just the tip of the iceberg. Unfortunately, I don't have the resource to fact check what is the largest misleading news content producing organization in the nation, and possibly the free world.
September 14, 2018 / 
With 99% of the precincts reporting, Andrew Cuomo won 975,552 votes to Cynthia Nixon’s 511,585 votes – that’s 65.6% for Cuomo and 34.4% for Nixon. Nixon won many of the counties surrounding Albany, Tompkins County and Lewis County near Syracuse.
Nixon reportedly received donations from 43,000 individual contributors [reportedly a state record], while Cuomo received donations from well under 4,000 contributors. This is why campaign finance reform will never happen with the same people in office [regardless of whether they are Democrats or Republicans] – because while the system may not be working for the people, it is certainly working for the pols and their donors. 
Letitia James won the Attorney General position, beating out Zephyr Teachout and Sean Patrick Maloney. James received 578,412 votes to Teachout’s 441,567 votes and Maloney’s 356,602 votes. The percentages were James with 41.6%, Teachout with 31% and Maloney with 25% of the vote. James won all of the boroughs of New York City, the two counties on Long Island, as well as Westchester and Rockland counties [the latter two counties are suburban outreaches of NYC].
One of the big issues to be decided during this primary season was the fate of the nine Democrats who had caucused with the Republicans, thereby giving the Republicans majority control of the NYS Senate. Eight of the senators became members of the Independent Democratic Caucus [IDC] which was founded by Bronx NYS Senator Jeffrey Klein, only a year or two into Cuomo’s first term. The creation of the IDC was said to be with the tacit approval of Andrew Cuomo, so that the NYS Governor could prevent the Democratic agenda from becoming too progressive.
