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.
Manhattan Things To Do This Weekend
On Saturday, beginning at 3 pm and 7.30 pm, the Neville Dance Theatre Company will perform a half dozen different works choreographed to the works of various female composers at the Manhattan Movement & Arts Center at 248 West 60th Street on the UWS. The works include world premieres and the program is entitled, Celebrating Woman Composers. For $28 / $28 tickets and details see - https://www.nevilledance.org/.
Through Saturday, April 8th beginning at 7 pm [most nights], the Chain Theatre at 312 West 36th Street [3rd Floor] will be hosting live performances of THIS G*D DAMN HOUSE. The play is described as follows, " ... Jet lagged, without warning, Danny is summoned from NYC by his brother Jacob to Florida. Their mother has 24 hrs to vacate their childhood home. The problem is, their mother is a hoarder and the house is an indoor trash heap. The brothers dig through the filth and garbage with memories, trauma, and the past rising to the surface as the deadline closes in...". For tickets and details see - https://www.chaintheatre.org.
OPEN CALL. The Chain NYC Film Festival is accepting submissions. The early bird deadline is April 29, 2023. Producers, Directors and Actors can save on entry fees by submitting their work early on Film Freeway. For details see - https://www.chaintheatre.org/.
Fresh, Fly and Fabulous is on exhibit at the Fashion Institute of Management at 227 West 27th Street in Chelsea from February 8th to April 23rd. The exhibit is dedicated to Hip Hop not just as music and fashion, but as a lifestyle and cultural statement. Hip Hop celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Wednesday - Friday from noon to 8 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 10 am - 5 pm. There's an all day symposium on Friday, February 24th. For details see - https://www.fitnyc.edu/
On Monday, March 27, at 6.30 pm the United Palace will be " ... official[ly] unveiling ... four new digital monitors and two illuminated attraction boxes that upgrade the theatre’s ability to communicate with passersby ...".
On Friday, March 31st, the AIPAD [Association of International Photography Art Dealers] Show opens at Center 415 at 415 5th Avenue. The show ends on Sunday, April 2nd.
FYI - Our Manhattan street fairs schedule will be updated this weekend / next week, with weekly updates happening thereafter. Eg. Grand Bazaar on Columbus and West 77th Street opens Sunday, March 6th at 10 am.
Brooklyn Things To Do This Weekend
LAST PERFORMANCE. On Friday at 7.30 pm there is the last performances of Black female author Lorraine Hansberry's epic drama entitled The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window in the Harvey Theatre at the Brooklyn Academy of Music at 651 Fulton Street in Brooklyn. They describe the play as follows, " ... Hansberry invites us into Greenwich Village in the 60s, crafting a razor-sharp portrait of a diverse group of friends whose progressive dreams can’t quite match reality. At the center are Sidney and Iris Brustein, fighting to see if their marriage—with all its crackling wit, passion, and petty cruelty—can survive Sidney’s ideals...". The play runs daily, except Mondays, through March 24th. For $35 & up tickets and details see - https://www.bam.org.
On Sunday, March 26, 2023 the Bay Ridge Brooklyn Saint Patrick's Parade kicks off at 1 pm on 3rd and Marine Avenues and marches north along 3rd Avenue to 67th Street ending in Owl's Head Park in Bayridge. This parade was first established in 1993. For further details see - https://www.brparade.com/
The photo at right was taken at the 2022 St Pats Parade in the Bay Ridge neighborhood of Brooklyn.
FYI - Our Brooklyn street fairs schedule will be updated this weekend / next week, with weekly updates happening thereafter.
Queens Things To Do This Weekend
On Friday, beginning at 8 pm, Octogenarian Women of Jazz, will perform at Flushing Town Hall at 137-35 Northern Blvd. For $15 / $10 tickets see - https://www.flushingtownhall.org
Saturday, March 25, 2023 beginning at 1 pm the Bayside St. Patrick's Day Parade marches down Bell Blvd between 35th and 42nd Avenues. The parade is a fairly new one, now in its fifth or sixth year [2023]. For further details see their Facebook page - www.facebook.com/baysidestpatricksdayparade as their website as of this post on 2.28.23 is currently having issues - www.baysidesaintpatricksdayparade.org.
FYI - Our Queens street fairs schedule will be updated this weekend / next week, with weekly updates happening thereafter. Eg. HBCU College Fair beginning at 11 am this Saturday 3/25/23 in Rochdale Village.
NEXT WEEK. On Tuesday and Wednesday, beginning at 7.30 pm, there will be performances by eight emerging dancers / choreographers at the LaGuardia Performing Arts Center at 31-10 Thomson Avenue in Long Island City. The event is described as follows, " ... The Emerging Choreographer Series is an intensive crash-course in self-producing; offering rehearsal space, compensation, career development consultations, and professional mentorship to selected choreographers. During the course of the program, choreographers will create, develop, and premiere a new work at CUNY’s LaGuardia Performing Arts Center (LPAC) in Long Island City. The program is free of charge—no application fees, no production fees, and no rental costs will be charged to the applicants or selected choreographers ...". Next week we get to see these folks perform. Pre-Sale [$20] and regular [$30] tickets may be purchased at - https://www.lpac.nyc.
Bronx Things To Do This Weekend
March is Music Month at the Pregones PRTT Theater at 575 Walton Avenue in the Bronx. On Saturday beginning at 7 pm the Villalobos Brothers will perform, "... Contemporary Mexican [music including] ... jazz, harmonies ... ".And on Sunday, beginning at 3 pm, Siyumeng Wang whose performance is described as a classical piano concert. For $18 - $36 and $0 - $36 tickets see - https://pregonesprtt.org/.
NEXT WEEK. On Friday, March 31st, the final concert of the March is Music Month at Pregones will be performed. It's billed as Appalachian / Puerto Rican. See listing above for address / website / tickets.
An exhibit entitled Queer Nature is at Bronx Art Space at 700 Manida Street [near Spofford Avenue] in the Hunts Point neighborhood of the Bronx. The exhibit is described as, " ... One of the primary arguments against homosexuality is the belief that it is not deemed as "natural", therefore cannot be considered normal. Nature is often weaponized to justify homophobia and transphobia, falsely using biology as a means to enforce social constructs. Some cells reproduce asexually, same-sex behaviors occur in hundreds of species of animals, numerous plants and animals are hermaphroditic; many of them switching genders. How can one consider homosexuality unnatural when it is evident in nature? ...". One of the reasons people's understanding and conversations about gender and race are so messed up is that the mainstream media teleprompter readers seem at least as ignorant as their audiences. For details on the exhibit which also has a closing party on April 1st may be found at - http://www.bronxartspace.com.
The Orchid Show has returned to the New York Botanical Garden and will be there until April 23rd. This year the installation was designed by Lily Kwong a landscape artist who explores Asian cultural themes.
There are gardening classes being given at the Bartow Pell Mansion for the next three Saturdays in March [11th, 18th & 25th] from 10 am - 12 noon. Tickets for all three days are $75 for non-members [$25 / class], or $50 for members [$17 / class].
NEXT WEEK. On Thursday, March 30th, beginning at 1.05 pm, the NY Yankees play the San Francisco Giants at Yankee Stadium in their opening game of the 2023 season.
FYI - Our Bronx street fairs schedule will be updated this weekend / next week, with weekly updates happening thereafter.
Staten Island Things To Do This Weekend
On Saturday from 3 - 4.15 pm at the Newhouse Center for Contemporary Art, Main Hall Gallery, Building C in the Snug Harbor Cultural Center, there will be a modern dance performance by Nathan Trice & Co, an NYC-based choreographer.
On Saturday, from 1 - 2 pm there will be a lecture about the life of Mary of the Olmsted Beil House at the Alice Austen House Museum at 2 Hylan Blvd in the Rosebank neighborhood of Staten Island. Mary Cleveland Olmsted was the wife of Frederick Olmsted who was one of the original American landscape architects, who designed Central and Prospect Parks. Free. For details see https://aliceausten.org.
On Saturday from 6 - 8 pm at the Historic Richmond Town at the Guyon Tavern at 441 Clarke Avenue there's a concert by Mike Agranoff whose performances are described as, " ... a superb fingerstyle guitar in idioms ranging from traditional fiddle tunes to the American Songbook to contemporary Americana. He is a master of the little-known English Concertina, applying it anywhere from a haunting and poignant song accompaniment to an unexpected virtuoso transcription of a Bach concerto.......". For $18 tickets and event details see - https://www.historicrichmondtown.org
FYI - Our Staten Island street fairs schedule will be updated this weekend / next week, with weekly updates happening thereafter. Eg. There's a fair on Saturday from 9 am - 3 pm at Immanuel Union Church at 693 Jewett Avenue, which is in the National Register of Historic places. For details see - https://immanuelunionchurch.org/.
Opening Dates, Hours, Items & How To Shop - Staten Island Farmers Markets SI
March 21, 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.
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.
Manhattan Things To Do This Weekend
Friday, March 17th, beginning at 11 am, the NYC St Patrick's Day Parade in Manhattan begins on 5th Avenue at 44th Street and marches up to 79th Street. There are generally about 150,000 participants and about two million spectators. Click these links for Irish pub suggestions for each borough. For further details see - https://www.nycstpatricksparade.org/
Through Saturday, April 8th beginning at 7 pm [most nights], the Chain Theatre at 312 West 36th Street [3rd Floor] will be hosting live performances of THIS G*D DAMN HOUSE. The play is described as follows, " ... Jet lagged, without warning, Danny is summoned from NYC by his brother Jacob to Florida. Their mother has 24 hrs to vacate their childhood home. The problem is, their mother is a hoarder and the house is an indoor trash heap. The brothers dig through the filth and garbage with memories, trauma, and the past rising to the surface as the deadline closes in...". For tickets and details see - https://www.chaintheatre.org.
OPEN CALL. The Chain NYC Film Festival is accepting submissions. The early bird deadline is April 29, 2023. Producers, Directors and Actors can save on entry fees by submitting their work early on Film Freeway. For details see - https://www.chaintheatre.org/.
Fresh, Fly and Fabulous is on exhibit at the Fashion Institute of Management at 227 West 27th Street in Chelsea from February 8th to April 23rd. The exhibit is dedicated to Hip Hop not just as music and fashion, but as a lifestyle and cultural statement. Hip Hop celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Wednesday - Friday from noon to 8 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 10 am - 5 pm. There's an all day symposium on Friday, February 24th. For details see - https://www.fitnyc.edu/
On Sunday, March 19th from 6.50 am - 9.20 am beginning in Prospect Park in Brooklyn, the gates to four waves of runners for the Half Marathon race organized by NY Road Runners open. The runners head northwest from Prospect Park, crossing Manhattan Bridge, and running up the FDR to 42nd Street where they head to Times Square before turnning north toward Central Park, where the race ends in Central Park in Manhattan between noon and 1.30 pm. It's too late to register to run, but you can watch along the route on Sunday. For details see - https://www.nyrr.org.
There's an International Vision Expo at the Javits Center 429 11th Avenue at 35th Street. It's billed as where eyecare meets eyewear, and education, fashion, innovation and ophthalmic professionals mingle.
NEXT WEEK. A Federal Reserve meeting to discuss public investments in Education. The first is on education on Thursday, March 23, 2023 from 4.30 - 5.30 pm. The event is described as follows, " ... a hybrid event exploring how investments in children’s growth and development can save society money and lead to better health and economic outcomes. David Erickson of the New York Fed will discuss his new book, “The Fifth Freedom: Guaranteeing an Opportunity-Rich Childhood for All.” Speakers will discuss how good schools, well-funded libraries, safe streets, and quality healthcare can pay long-term social dividendsRegistration closes Monday, March 20th for live and online attendance..". Free.
Afford.
Queens Things To Do This Weekend
Next Friday, March 17th at the NY Irish Center at 1040 Jackson near Vernon Blvd in Long Island City there's a St Patricks Day Celebration entitled '40 Shades of Green', from 3 - 9 pm. For $30 tickets and details see - https://www.newyorkirishcenter.org.
Next Friday, March 17th beginning at 5 pm, there's a reading of Cryptochrome in tandem with the Rough Draft Festival at the LaGuardia Performing Arts Center at 31-10 Thomson Avenue in Long Island City. The reading is described as follows, " ... Cryptochrome is a freewheeling ritual meditation on wayfinding and navigation. Named after a protein believed to be responsible for the ability to navigate using the electromagnetic field, the work explores forms of perception and intuition beyond the limited scope of the visible. As a visually impaired artist in the process of losing my own sight, its central questions are both urgent and personal. Incorporating a score of original music and text, the work invites audiences on a kaleidoscopic journey across the animal kingdom––from echolocating bats in pitch black caves to birds migrating across featureless oceans––to unearth new insights about how we move through the world in relation to other creatures and one another...". For more details and to rsvp a free seat go to - https://www.lpac.nyc/.
On Saturday, March 18th from 1 - 4 pm, Women's Work at King Manor in Jamaica, Queens. A look at the work colonial women did. Free.
On Sunday, March 19th from 2.30 - 4.30 pm, Bix on the Big Screen at the Kingsland Homestead in Flushing. A film about a 1920's Sunnyside resident and famous jazz musician, Bix Biederbecke. Tickets $7 / $3.
On Sunday, March 19th from 3.30 - 8 pm and possibly beyond. A film, interactive event including refreshments and socializing, entitled NYC Five-Borough ‘Together, Not Alone – Zip Codes Remember’ Tour. At The Local at 13-02 44th Avenue in Long Island City. Free but you must register to attend -
On Friday at 7.30 pm, Saturday at 1.30 and 7.30, and Sunday at 3 pm there are performances of Black female author Lorraine Hansberry's epic drama entitled The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window in the Harvey Theatre at the Brooklyn Academy of Music at 651 Fulton Street in Brooklyn. They describe the play as follows, " ... Hansberry invites us into Greenwich Village in the 60s, crafting a razor-sharp portrait of a diverse group of friends whose progressive dreams can’t quite match reality. At the center are Sidney and Iris Brustein, fighting to see if their marriage—with all its crackling wit, passion, and petty cruelty—can survive Sidney’s ideals...". The play runs daily, except Mondays, through March 24th. For $35 & up tickets and details see - https://www.bam.org. Performances end March 24, 2023.
On Sunday, March 19th from 6.50 am - 9.20 am beginning in Prospect Park in Brooklyn, the gates to four waves of runners for the Half Marathon race organized by NY Road Runners open. The runners head northwest from Prospect Park, crossing Manhattan Bridge, and running up the FDR to 42nd Street where they head to Times Square before turnning north toward Central Park, where the race ends in Central Park in Manhattan between noon and 1.30 pm. It's too late to register to run, but you can watch along the route on Sunday. For details see - https://www.nyrr.org.
NEXT WEEK. On Thurday, March 23rd at PS 9 in Prospect Heights, Assemblymember Robert Carroll is hosting a community meeting to discuss whatever ails you. To rsvp a spot and find out what time it is, see - Carrollr@nyassembly.gov.
NEXT WEEK. On Thurday, March 23rd theres an Opening Reception for a Rachel Wren exhibit from 6 - 9 pm at The Shirley Project Space at 609 Washington Avenue [at Dean Street] in the Prospect Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn NY. On view from March 23 - May 12, 2023. Free.
Bronx Things To Do This Weekend
March is Music Month at the Pregones PRTT Theater at 575 Walton Avenue in the Bronx. On Saturday beginning at 7 pm Manuel Valera and his band, which they desribe as, "... New Cuban Express, creates a unique and distinctive style that mixes elements of Jazz, R&B, fusion, funk, and Cuban music... ".And on Sunday, beginning at 3 pm, Chantal Balestri whose performance is described as follows, " ... a versatile classical musician [who] ... will play works by Schubert, Franz, and Schumann ... ". For $18 - $36 and $0 - $36 tickets see - https://pregonesprtt.org/.
On Saturday, March 18, 2023 beginning at 1 pm, the 65th Annual Yonkers St. Patrick's Parade will march up what they call the Emerald Mile, along McLean Avenue from Bronx River Road / Webster Avenue to Coyne Park in Yonkers. This is a link to a report we did on some of the Irish bars and pubs in the Woodlawn neighborhood of the Bronx NYC, which is just south of McLean Avenue where the Throgs Neck St Patricks Day Parade begins. For further details see their website at - http://www.yonkersstpatricksparade.org/
An exhibit entitled Queer Nature is at Bronx Art Space at 700 Manida Street [near Spofford Avenue] in the Hunts Point neighborhood of the Bronx. The exhibit is described as, " ... One of the primary arguments against homosexuality is the belief that it is not deemed as "natural", therefore cannot be considered normal. Nature is often weaponized to justify homophobia and transphobia, falsely using biology as a means to enforce social constructs. Some cells reproduce asexually, same-sex behaviors occur in hundreds of species of animals, numerous plants and animals are hermaphroditic; many of them switching genders. How can one consider homosexuality unnatural when it is evident in nature? ...". One of the reasons people's understanding and conversations about gender and race are so messed up is that the mainstream media teleprompter readers seem at least as ignorant as their audiences. For details on the exhibit which also has a closing party on April 1st may be found at - http://www.bronxartspace.com.
OPEN CALL ARTISTS / CURATORS. Bronx Art Space has issued an open call to emerging art curators, with a deadline of March 19th, for an April Show. For details see - http://www.bronxartspace.com
The Orchid Show has returned to the New York Botanical Garden and will be there until April 23rd. This year the installation was designed by Lily Kwong a landscape artist who explores Asian cultural themes.
There are gardening classes being given at the Bartow Pell Mansion for the next three Saturdays in March [11th, 18th & 25th] from 10 am - 12 noon. Tickets for all three days are $75 for non-members [$25 / class], or $50 for members [$17 / class].
Staten Island Things To Do This Weekend
On Friday night, from 7 pm - 12 midnight, The Pride Center at 59 Wright Street on Staten Island is hosting the Spring Bling [kiki] Ball. There will be music and dancing. No admission was noted, but for more info and details see - https://twitter.com/pridecenterSI. They also have a website but this and the following event aren't posted there. https://www.pridecentersi.org
On Saturday, from 11 am - 3 pm, starting at Jodys Club at 372 Forest Avenue there's the first Crawl for All St Patricks Day weekend bar crawl. The event is being organized by folks associated with the Pride Center of Staten Island who would like the St Patricks Day parade on Staten Island, to join all other St Patricks Day parades in NYC, by eliminating the discriminatory practice of forbidding people who are both members of Irish and LGBTQ communities, from participating in the parade. Inclusivity rather than exclusivity. Because the Staten Island St Pat's Day Parade continues to lose both audience and participation, the organizers wanted to mitigate some of the St Pat's Parade business losses by local businesses, by organizing the Crawl for All. For details see - https://twitter.com/pridecenterSI.
On Saturday from 6 - 8 pm at the Historic Richmond Town at the Guyon Tavern at 441 Clarke Avenue there's a concert by The Irish Stout and who are described as, " ... Bob Conroy, Norm & Jean Pederson, Jason Wickersty, and Chris Browne, performing new and old traditional Irish songs and tunes. Accompanied by Banjo, Guitar, Fiddle, Ukulele, Mandolin, Irish Flute and Bodhran......". For $18 tickets and event details see - https://www.historicrichmondtown.org
The Lighthouse Museum at 200 The Promenade in the St. George neighborhood of Staten Island has ongoing exhibits about lighthouses and related subjects such as the equipment, the history and an exhibit about the first African American lighthouse keeper at Cape Henry Light, and another about another early African American Lighthouse keeper who played a role at the Pea Island Life Saving Station. For $10 / $5 tickets and details see - https://lighthousemuseum.org.
Have a good one.
Governor Hochul Scraps the Ill Conceived LGA - Willets Point Air Train
Former Governor Cuomo's Air Train Seemed More About Catering to the Whims of the Billionaire Class, than in Streamlining Public Transit
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] 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.
Environmental & Community Groups Oppose Cuomo's Willets Point - LGA Air Train Plan
I recall and confirmed via Wikipedia that, "... In January 2020, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, wrote to the FAA asking why 46 alternatives were rejected and noting that over 60% of the 414 public comments collected by the FAA were in opposition to the proposed routing. Democratic District Leader, Hiram Monserrate, also objected that the FAA's approval had bypassed a Uniform Land Use Review Procedure analysis ... mandated for other large projects. The same month, residents and business owners along the AirTrain's proposed route protested against the construction of the AirTrain on that route...".
In early 2021 Hudson Riverkeeper and the following community groups, Ditmars Blvd Block Association, Guardians of Flushing Bay and the Sensible Way to LGA Coalition, joined forces to slow and eventually stop the Cuomo preferred Air Train alternative, which was to be routed through billionaire controlled Willets Point.
I was far from alone in believing that things weren't right with Cuomo's preferred alternative for the Air Train via Willets Point. An August 12, 2021 Streets Blog report informed us the following,
"... Environmentalists, transit advocates, elected officials and other opponents of the LaGuardia AirTrain are cheering the dissident Port Authority of New York and New Jersey staffers who issued an open letter calling for an end to the boondoggle project and an internal investigation of any “undue influence” that departing Gov. Cuomo had on its federal approval ... Dozens of Port Authority staffers are said to have signed the August 10 missive, which was addressed to Port Authority Executive Director (and Cuomo loyalist) Rick Cotton and copied to all Port Authority commissioners. The letter landed literally hours after Cuomo announced his resignation on Tuesday. (Internal sources dispute the number, claiming that the number of signers is in the single digits.) ... “For too long, Gov. Cuomo and his staff have repeatedly pushed the agency to make non-transparent, politically motivated decisions, including decisions that squander the trust and money of our bondholders, customers, and the general public,” the staffers wrote in the letter ... "
A Bit of the Scandalous History of Willets Point Real Estate Ownership - A Story Generally Not Reported Much by the TV Teleprompter News Presenters
This destination, Willets Point, was the site where former Mayor Bloomberg misused the government power of eminent domain to wrest that valuable land from a number of small landlords of auto repair shops. After using government power and funding to essentially take away the Willets Point property from its original owners, former Mayor Bloomberg subsequently turned around and 'sold it for $1' to the billionaires / millionaires mentioned above, including Stephen Ross, as well as Saul Katz and Fred Wilpon [Mets owners at the time] who also controlled adjacent property at Willets Point near Flushing Bay.
So ask yourself, why don't most New Yorkers know what I just reported above? Because the mainstream media is too busy extensively reporting the weather, sports scores and accidents and murders, instead of the real news. And the TV teleprompter presenters don't seem to have a clue as to what really goes on in NYC and NYS, as they - like the bad politicians - only show up in front of their cameras for photo ops, which are no real substitute for real news coverage. To me, the TV teleprompter presenters seem as inauthentic as $3 bills. But I digress.
Two Primary Drivers of the Rail Connection Construction Costs
One of the biggest obstacles to erecting a rail connection into / out of LaGuardia is the disruption it would cause to existing commutes. Another major factor, particularly for those alternatives which provided the most direct connections into / out of Manhattan, was that a rail connection would have to tunnel below the end of LGA Runway 4-22 that stretches from the southwest section of the airport to the northeast section of the airport which ends in the East River. The reason such a tunnel is required, is because of FAA regulations surrounding construction limitations around an FAA airstrip. I picked up this information in a March 13, 2023 Engineering News Record report as well as in the FAA report noted below.
In the map at right you can see the two runways at LaGuardia and the spot where the 4-22 runway ends, which is one of the construction hurdles / issues.
The Best Air Train Alternative Never Made the List - But the Q70 Bus Link did & Won
There were 10 alternatives, which were described - along with their limitations - on the FAA website. If you're curious about them you can cut and paste this link to view them.
So, instead of a new rail connection into LaGuardia Airport, the committee decided to spend an additional $500 million upgrading the Q70 bus link to LaGuardia. Does that really make sense?
What About Some Other Low Cost, Direct Alternative?
So first, full disclosure, this is my own conception and I've not even tested it out on anyone. You're among the first.
I took a look at a map of the Astoria neighborhood which lies between Manhattan and LaGuardia. It's an area with which I'm pretty familiar. A few of the air train alternatives included connecting the Astoria Blvd and the Ditmars Blvd N / W train MTA subway stops, as the jumping off point for a rail connection to LaGuardia Airport. This makes the most sense, as both the N and W subway lines are nowhere near capacity use, like the #7 train, so there's likely enough slack to handle a significant boost in ridership, if those lines were to be used to enable a public transit rail connection to LaGuardia Airport.
I couldn't find passengers per subway line [that the MTA doesn't publish such information makes no sense to me - they seem only publish per station information], so instead I used the interval time between trains, as a proxy for how much unused capacity is in each line in the system. The #7 train is the only one that uses the rail tracks that the #7 line runs on and the trains are spaced every 2 minutes. The N / W line runs both trains on the same track, and they are spaced every 6 minutes and every 8 minutes, so you can see that the N / W could fairly easily ramp up to handle additional passenger traffic to / from LaGuardia if that subway line was chosen as the starting point to complete a public transit rail connection to LaGuardia Airport.
It's worth noting that the N / W Astoria subway stops are the nearest jumping off point from the subway system to LaGuardia Airport. Only 82nd Street in Jackson Heights and 103rd Street in Corona come close, and they are both nested on the #7 subway line. The N / W subway line proximity to the airport should minimize the amount of construction required to complete a connection from the subway to the airport.
The graphic at right shows the N line travels through Queens, Manhattan and Brooklyn. There are connections to the #7 if you're heading into eastern and southern Queens and connections via subway to the Bronx and Staten Island from Manhattan.
For historical reference, in 1984 Chicago built a subway line from the center of the city, to O'Hare Airport which is 16 miles away. Since then, that CTA subway line has grown to become the second most used subway line in Chicago. But it is also one of its longest lines, so that would make sense.
Passenger Impact on the MTA, if a Rail Connection Was Built From the MTA to LaGuardia Airport
In 2022 there were 29 million passengers [79,000 per day] who traveled through LaGuardia. And from what I could gather from some of the Air Train Analysis reports by the Port Authority PANYNJ, it appears that an estimated 10% of passengers [3 million or 8,200 riders per day] currently use public transit.
In 2019 the MTA provided 1.7 billion subway trips using 36 rail lines. So the average ridership per line [recognizing that ridership per line varies significantly] is 47 million, or about 130,000 riders per day. If every airline passenger took public transit, they would add 79,000 rider trips to the MTA per day, and if they were all carried on one average line, that would boost the ridership on that line by 61%.
Assuming I interpreted the PANYNJ LGA Air Train project estimates for public transit correctly, public transit usage would grow to about 20% - 25% of trips taken to / from LaGuardia if a rail connection were built. So that means even if all the trips to / from LGA came through just one average subway line, the ridership on that MtA line would only increase by 15%.
So, recognizing these are back of the envelope calculations, adding a rail connection from the N / W train line in Astoria wouldn't put an undue burden on those lines, vis a vis the #7 train.
The map above right shows where 19th Avenue and 81st Street meet, which could be the jumping off point for a bimodal train entry into LaGuardia Airport.
Setting up the BiModal Alternative - Connecting to LaGuardia Airport via Rail
Given the FAA restrictions on construction projects near airport runways as pointed out to us by Engineering News Record report of 3/13/23 referenced above, I suggest the PANYNJ build a connecting light rail from the N/ W lines in Astoria to the edge of the airport, ending in the southwest corner of the airport, at the end of the 4-22 runway at 19th Avenue and 81st Street [see map above right]. For the residents of this area, the advantage of this rail link would be better public transit, which in turn would likely raise property values, and make for a very easy any commute into the airport for workers.
Another option would be for it to travel along the Grand Central Parkway [both of these alternatives were included in the PANYNJ study]. The CTA [Chicago Transit Authority] did this very same thing along the Kennedy Expressway in Chicago. The photo at the beginning of this report is of the CTA subway line along the Kennedy Expressway in Chicago to O'Hare Airport. The photo above right is of the Grand Central Parkway in Astoria. There appears to be enough space to add a rail line in here somewhere.
So here's the American ingenuity piece. Set up the N / W trains that go to LaGuardia to have a few rail cars that can be unfastened from the end of that subway train, and can then be driven around the airport stopping at each of the terminals, before returning to the line and being refastened onto the next outgoing subway train. Or, in a manner similar to what they do with container shipping, have some cars that can be rolled off the subway train line and then pulled around the airport terminals on a conveyor, before circling back to be refastened to the next outgoing subway train.
Unfortunately, the photo above right is the closest image I could find on the web, that conveys my meaning - and it doesn't do a sufficient job in my mind.
What I visualize are subway cars at the end of the train, which can be disconnected and go vehicular around the airport. Or better yet, subway cars that can be motored a few blocks to a separate automated rail or street car-like system that takes the disconnected subway cars around the airport to all of the terminals, before returning to the starting point where they would be shuttled back to be reconnected to the next city bound MTA subway train.
The image at right is of a street car operating on one of the few remaining San Francisco street car lines still running. The MTA could set up a street car track circling around the airport, with various pick up / drop off points for folks coming in on the MTA, from various MTA and other bus lines, short and long term parking, and pick up / drop off points for taxis, limos and individually driven cars. A system of this nature, if designed properly, could greatly simply LGA traffic flows.
Think of LaGuardia Airport as an amusement park. After all, the airport was built on one - the North Beach Amusement Park. See photo below of the amusement park which occupied much of the land upon which Municipal Airport was created, opening in 1939, and later renamed LaGuardia in 1947.
Use Flexible Technology to Expand Public Transit Economically, Thus Enabling the Masses & the Middle Class, Instead of Congestion Pricing / Taxing the Average Citizen out of the Rich Man's Way
I recognize that this option isn't currently offered by Kawasaki, Bombardier or Siemens, who represent about two thirds of the subway car industry. But this isn't rocket science, and there is plenty of pre-existing technology, like parts etc. to make this happen in about as much time [2 - 3 years] as it would take to complete the elevated rail line from either the Ditmars Blvd or Astoria Blvd subway station. NYS has a large Kawasaki subway car plant in Yonkers that might be up to the job.
This sort of flexible technology would also enable the MTA to expand service further into transportation deserts, before doing an expensive build out of subway lines, in neighborhoods where public transit makes sense. This would in turn reduce congestion in Manhattan and surrounding areas.
For my money, building infrastructure that enables folks to get around more easily without their cars, is a far more equitable solution to our congestion, pollution and transportation problems thanCongestion Pricing.
Congestion Pricing appears to me like the proposal of the Air Train to Willets Point that Governor Hochul just scratched, meaning it doesn't serve the general public interest, but rather seems to reward the private selfish interests of the folks who are pushing the plan, and who appear to have successfully manipulated quite a few well intentioned folks to support it. The profiteering supporters congestion pricing have manipulated a lot of people into supporting it by promising them all of these public transit goodies, which they claim the masses will get from the proceeds [their first hook was that it was better for the environment but that didn't stand up to scientific scrutiny very well]. If you read the Congestion Pricing report we previously published [see link above], you'll see that in London, where they implemented a congestion pricing plan, a lot of the money went into building and managing the congestion pricing system, while only a fraction of it actually made its way to support public transit as originally promised. Just as in the Congestion Pricing environmental claims, there seemed to be a fair amount of fictionalization of the 'facts'. This sort of manipulation is not unlike what Australian born Oligarch Rupert Murdoch does all too often on his Fox News, NY Post and Wall Street Journal.
Congestion pricing basically creates something very unAmerican, which is a two-tiered transportation system for the haves and have nots. Folks with less money are priced out of driving in Manhattan [luxury] so the rich folks can move around more easily, having priced the rest of the folks out of the way. Building infrastructure, on the other hand, entices folks to ditch their cars in the interest of saving the environment, creates more doable public transit commutes, and enables the working class to save their money to spend on more satisfying conveniences.
Think about it, then smile or have a good laugh - either at me or with me - and go on to enjoy your week.
Things to do This Weekend in NYC & Boros
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.
Manhattan Things To Do This Weekend
From March 15 through April 8th beginning at 7 pm [most nights], the Chain Theatre at 312 West 36th Street [3rd Floor] will be hosting live performances of THIS G*D DAMN HOUSE. The play is described as follows, " ... Jet lagged, without warning, Danny is summoned from NYC by his brother Jacob to Florida. Their mother has 24 hrs to vacate their childhood home. The problem is, their mother is a hoarder and the house is an indoor trash heap. The brothers dig through the filth and garbage with memories, trauma, and the past rising to the surface as the deadline closes in...". For tickets and details see - https://www.chaintheatre.org.
OPEN CALL. The Chain NYC Film Festival is accepting submissions. The early bird deadline is April 29, 2023. Producers, Directors and Actors can save on entry fees by submitting their work early on Film Freeway. For details see - https://www.chaintheatre.org/.
Fresh, Fly and Fabulous is on exhibit at the Fashion Institute of Management at 227 West 27th Street in Chelsea from February 8th to April 23rd. The exhibit is dedicated to Hip Hop not just as music and fashion, but as a lifestyle and cultural statement. Hip Hop celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Wednesday - Friday from noon to 8 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 10 am - 5 pm. There's an all day symposium on Friday, February 24th. For details see - https://www.fitnyc.edu/
Next Friday, March 17th, beginning at 11 am, the NYC St Patrick's Day Parade in Manhattan begins on 5th Avenue at 44th Street and marches up to 79th Street. There are generally about 150,000 participants and about two million spectators. Click these links for Irish pub suggestions for each borough. For further details see - https://www.nycstpatricksparade.org/
Friday, March 10th beginning at 5 pm, there's a reading of Doll Valley in tandem with the Rough Draft Festival at the LaGuardia Performing Arts Center at 31-10 Thomson Avenue in Long Island City. The reading is described as follows, " ... Doll Valley is a meditation on a cornerstone of iconic queer camp pop culture endowed with the mythic tale of women attempting to navigate concepts of gaze and authorship in a volatile field/industry ...". For more details and to rsvp a free seat go to - https://www.lpac.nyc/.
This Sunday, March 12th from 12 noon - 3 pm at the Museum of the Moving Image at 36-01 35th Avenue in Astoria - Redefining Leadership, Reimagining Power - is a workshop described as, " ... in connection with Ramadan and Women’s History Month, Redefining Leadership, Reimagining Power is a community event focused on women leaders and the many definitions of leadership including speaking up against injustices; taking care of each other and our communities; and creating films with powerful messages, such as TYWLS student Niyama Chowdhury’s visual poem The Light of Islam. In response to a prompt, participants can create a video about women’s leadership ...". For tickets and details see - https://movingimage.us. Free with $10 / $20 admission.
Next Wednesday, March 15th beginning at 7.30 pm at St. Marks Episcopal Church at 33-50 82nd Street in Jackson Heights, there's a performance by the Jackson Heights Orchestra. In addition to playing Mozart's the Marriage of Figaro, and Beethoven's Symphony #7, they'll be performing a new work by one of their own. For details and tickets see their Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/people/Jackson-Heights-Orchestra/100028285643320/
Next Thursday, March 16th from 6.30 to 9.30 pm at Materials for the Arts at 11-00 Northern Blvd in Long Island City there's an art exhibit opening for “A Kaleidoscope of Lines/ Forms/ Patterns” by Sui Park. The works is described as follows, " ... Her work involves creating 3-dimensional organic forms in biomorphic shapes that are both illusory and mystical. Park’s creations are often made with mass-produced industrial materials, in particular, Monofilament cable sleeving and zip ties. While resembling transitions and transformations of nature, the forms aim to capture subtle but continuous changes in our emotions, sentiments, memories, and expectations... ". For details and to rsvp see - https://www.materialsforthearts.org/.
Next Friday, March 17th at the NY Irish Center at 1040 Jackson near Vernon Blvd in Long Island City there's a St Patricks Day Celebration entitled '40 Shades of Green', from 3 - 9 pm. For $30 tickets and details see - https://www.newyorkirishcenter.org.
Next Friday, March 17th beginning at 5 pm, there's a reading of Cryptochrome in tandem with the Rough Draft Festival at the LaGuardia Performing Arts Center at 31-10 Thomson Avenue in Long Island City. The reading is described as follows, " ... Cryptochrome is a freewheeling ritual meditation on wayfinding and navigation. Named after a protein believed to be responsible for the ability to navigate using the electromagnetic field, the work explores forms of perception and intuition beyond the limited scope of the visible. As a visually impaired artist in the process of losing my own sight, its central questions are both urgent and personal. Incorporating a score of original music and text, the work invites audiences on a kaleidoscopic journey across the animal kingdom––from echolocating bats in pitch black caves to birds migrating across featureless oceans––to unearth new insights about how we move through the world in relation to other creatures and one another...". For more details and to rsvp a free seat go to - https://www.lpac.nyc/.
Brooklyn Things To Do This Weekend
On Sunday, March 12 from 11 am to 5 pm there's a Winter Pop Up Market at the Brooklyn Museum at 200 Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn. The event is free and open to the public. For details see https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/.
The photo at right was taken at a spring market in Brooklyn [not at the museum] a few years ago, just before the pandemic struck.
On Friday at 7.30 pm, Saturday at 1.30 and 7.30, and Sunday at 3 pm there are performances of Black female author Lorraine Hansberry's epic drama entitled The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window in the Harvey Theatre at the Brooklyn Academy of Music at 651 Fulton Street in Brooklyn. They describe the play as follows, " ... Hansberry invites us into Greenwich Village in the 60s, crafting a razor-sharp portrait of a diverse group of friends whose progressive dreams can’t quite match reality. At the center are Sidney and Iris Brustein, fighting to see if their marriage—with all its crackling wit, passion, and petty cruelty—can survive Sidney’s ideals...". The play runs daily, except Mondays, through March 24th. For $35 & up tickets and details see - https://www.bam.org.
On Monday, March 13th, beginning at 6.30 pm Brooklyn Poets at 144 Montague Street in Brooklyn Heights is hosting a number of open mic readings at their monthly Poets Yawp which is a workshop held on the second Monday of every month from 6.30 to 9 pm. If you want to speak you have to rsvp a spot in advance. The featured speaker this Monday is Ramya Ramana. For details and $13 tickets see - https://brooklynpoets.org/
Bronx Things To Do This Weekend
March is Music Month begins at Pregones PRTT Theater at 571 Walton Street in the Bronx. On Saturday beginning at 7 pm Sonia Olla and Ismael Fernandez who they bill as a "fiery duo". And on Sunday, beginning at 3 pm, Francesca Khalifa will perform. Khalifa's piano playing is described as follows, " ... uncommon among the new generation…the introspection of her interpretation is convincing, as much as the subtlety and delicacy of the phrasing, the nobility of the musicianship... ". For tickets call 718-585-1202, and while the prices weren't posted, we put in a call to find out but haven't heard back yet. Usually prices are in the $15 - $20 range.
On Sunday, March 12, 2023 beginning at 12 noon the Throggs Neck St Pats Parade in the Bronx steps off at Lafayette and East Tremont Avenue. The parade marches south on East Tremont Avenue, through the Throgs Neck commercial district, ending about a mile later at Harding and East Tremont Avenue, where a mobile stage is usually set up for parade speechs and entertainment. The parade lasts about an hour, but the festivities go on far longer.
The photo at right was taken at the Throggs Neck St Patricks Day Parade in 2018. This is a link to a previous report we did on the St Patricks Day Parade in Throgs Neck in the Bronx NYC. For further details see their blogspot page at - http://tnsaintpatricksdayparade.blogspot.com/
On Saturday, March 18, 2023 beginning at 1 pm, the 65th Annual Yonkers St. Patrick's Parade will march up what they call the Emerald Mile, along McLean Avenue from Bronx River Road / Webster Avenue to Coyne Park in Yonkers. This is a link to a report we did on some of the Irish bars and pubs in the Woodlawn neighborhood of the Bronx NYC, which is just south of McLean Avenue where the Throgs Neck St Patricks Day Parade begins. For further details see their website at - http://www.yonkersstpatricksparade.org/
An exhibit entitled Queer Nature is at Bronx Art Space at 700 Manida Street [near Spofford Avenue] in the Hunts Point neighborhood of the Bronx. The exhibit is described as, " ... One of the primary arguments against homosexuality is the belief that it is not deemed as "natural", therefore cannot be considered normal. Nature is often weaponized to justify homophobia and transphobia, falsely using biology as a means to enforce social constructs. Some cells reproduce asexually, same-sex behaviors occur in hundreds of species of animals, numerous plants and animals are hermaphroditic; many of them switching genders. How can one consider homosexuality unnatural when it is evident in nature? ...". One of the reasons people's understanding and conversations about gender and race are so messed up is that the mainstream media teleprompter readers seem at least as ignorant as their audiences. For details on the exhibit which also has a closing party on April 1st may be found at - http://www.bronxartspace.com.
OPEN CALL ARTISTS / CURATORS. Bronx Art Space has issued an open call to emerging art curators, with a deadline of March 19th, for an April Show. For details see - http://www.bronxartspace.com
The Orchid Show has returned to the New York Botanical Garden and will be there until April 23rd. This year the installation was designed by Lily Kwong a landscape artist who explores Asian cultural themes.
There are gardening classes being given at the Bartow Pell Mansion for the next three Saturdays in March [11th, 18th & 25th] from 10 am - 12 noon. Tickets for all three days are $75 for non-members [$25 / class], or $50 for members [$17 / class].
Staten Island Things To Do This Weekend
On Saturday, March 11th from 1 - 2.30 pm there's a rare opportunity to take a tour of the Carl Grillo Glass House at Snug Harbor. The tour provides a behind-the-scenes look at the greenhouse. From 2 - 3 pm there's a St. Lukes Orchestra concert entitled Journeys and Origins in the Newhouse Center for Contemporary Art in the Main Hall Gallery, Building C at Snug Harbor. Tour tickets cost $10 / $8 and concert tickets are free but you must rsvp. For tickets and details see - https://snug-harbor.org.
On Saturday from 6 - 8 pm at the Historic Richmond Town at the Guyon Tavern at 441 Clarke Avenue there's a concert by Linda Russell and who is described as, " ... a singer/songwriter who is also deeply rooted in traditional music. Playing mountain dulcimer and hammered dulcimer, Linda performs a variety of material ranging from early American ballads and love songs to mountain gospels, Irish dance tunes and her own compositions. Linda’s original songs tell of childhood summers, family sing-alongs and the abandoned farmhouses and eccentric characters of her Midwestern past.....". For $18 tickets and event details see - https://www.historicrichmondtown.org
Also in Historic Richmond Town [above] on Sunday, there's a Cabin Fever Reliever Soda Break Making Workshop from 1 - 3 pm. For $20 tickets and event details see - https://www.historicrichmondtown.org.
On Sunday, March 12th beginning at 4 pm there's a staged reading of the theatrical production of "Mind the Light" at the Lighthouse Museum at 200 The Promenade in the St. George neighborhood of Staten Island. The Lighthouse Museum also has ongoing exhibits about lighthouses and related subjects such as the equipment, the history and an exhibit about the first African American lighthouse keeper at Cape Henry Light, and another about another early African American Lighthouse keeper who played a role at the Pea Island Life Saving Station. For $10 / $5 tickets and details see - https://lighthousemuseum.org.
On Sunday, from 3 - 7 pm, there's an Oscar Night Pre-Party at the St. George Theatre at 35 Hyatt Street on Staten Island. The event includes a showing of Breakfast at Tiffanys on the big screen in the historic theater. For $20 per person tickets and details see - https://stgeorgetheatre.com
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.
The Illusion of Winter
The photo at right shows NYC getting its first real snow of Winter 2023. I went out late Monday evening to capture the snowfall, as I didn't think the snow would last long in our increasingly warm and drier climate. As you know, the snow - unlike unwelcome guests - didn't stay long. For those who still think climate change is a liberal hoax, please think again.
I think the coming climate change scourge isn't going to be about having too much water, but rather about not having enough water, to grow food and drink. If I were in charge of infrastructure preparations for climate change, I would be planning to cover reservoirs, cover conduits moving water from one area to another [including possibly rivers] and maybe even some lakes. I would also be accelerating our transition away from dictator-controlled fossil fuels [Russia & Saudi Arabia], to installing solar on rooftops to power both homes and to charge the homeowner's electric vehicles by instituting a steady gradual increase in taxes on carbon fuels, the proceeds of which I would use, as incentives to install renewable energy alternatives including more widely available public transit. And I would accelerate the erection of windmill fields near large urban center that can be protected from hostile enemy fire, to avoid experiencing what the Russians are doing to the Ukrainian power grid.
If you're under the age of 70 and in reasonably good health, you're going to be among those of us who will suffer the consequences of society allowing of the powerful to prioritize profits ahead doing the right thing for the general well being of the community. Click this link to view a report we did previously based on fact, with a blend of futuristic fiction - The Great Evaporation: An Ozone Hole Parable which conveys in greater detail my view of the coming catastrophe of climate change. In the meantime we can all do our little part, like re-using things as much as possible; walking, cycling or using public transit whenever feasible, keeping lights and appliances off or on low as much as reasonable, and making sure that the candidates we elect, prioritize the transition away from fascist-controlled fossil fuels, as fast as reasonably can be done.
Manhattan Things To Do This Weekend
From Thursday, March 2nd thru Sunday, March 5th, the Athena Film Festival is being held at Barnard College on West Broadway between 116th and 120th Streets on the Upper West Side. The festival is screening 12 feature films, 12 documentaries and 16 short films and they are hosting six panels. I believe most films are shown in the Held Auditorium, the Lehman Auditorium and the panels are held at either the Event Oval or the James Room. For further details, tickets [$18 general public / $7 for students] and locations see - https://athenafilmfestival.com/festival-info/directions/
Fresh, Fly and Fabulous is on exhibit at the Fashion Institute of Management at 227 West 27th Street in Chelsea from February 8th to April 23rd. The exhibit is dedicated to Hip Hop not just as music and fashion, but as a lifestyle and cultural statement. Hip Hop celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Wednesday - Friday from noon to 8 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 10 am - 5 pm. There's an all day symposium on Friday, February 24th. For details see - https://www.fitnyc.edu/
The photo at right shows that the city was prepared to handle the incoming snow. But given the light 1 - 3 inch dusting, and the warm temperatures forecast for the following day, mother nature had resourced the means to handle the snow removal herself.
On Sunday, March 5th from 10.30 am - 5.30 pm, Congregation Rodeph Sholom is celebrating PurimFest at 7 West 83rd Street in Manhattan. Free and everyone is welcome.
On Monday, March 6th from 6 - 10 pm, Phil's House of Blues at 300 West 116th Street [near Frederick Douglass Blvd] in West Harlem is hosting Silvana, featuring a number of blues musicians. Admittance is $10. For details see - https://www.newheritagetheatre.org/422-phil-s-house-of-blues
On Tuesday, March 7th, at 9.30 am at 250 Broadway between Park Place and Murray Street across from City Hall there's a Rally to Return the Landmarks Preservation Commission to its Purpose. The rally is being organized in tandem with the following organizations - Seaport Coalition, Humanscale NYC, Citywide Landuse Coalition and the Historic Districts Council.
Queens Things To Do This Weekend
Saturday, March 4, 2023. The Queens County St. Patrick's Day Parade in the Rockaways kicks off at 1 pm at Beach 130th and Newport Avenue. Church services at Francis de Sales Church [129th and Newport Avenue] will be held prior to the parade. The parade marches east down Newport Avenue to 116th Street, where it turns right / heads south one block to Rockaway Blvd - where it turns left and continues east down Rockaway Blvd to 102nd Street terminating near a shopping center parking lot. This parade is in the Rockaways neighborhood of Queens and as of 2023, this parade is in its 48th year. For more details see - https://queenscountyparade.org/
On Saturday, March 4, 2023 from 1 - 4 pm there's a Hands on History lecture about the Irish immigrants coming to New York. A sampling of what will be discussed is as follows, " ... to escape poverty and famine. With them, they brought their rich culture, which included symbols like the shamrock and their love of music, including the harp. Musicians were central to Irish culture, and the harp is the national symbol of Ireland. Many workers at King Manor in the 19th century were Irish immigrants ..." Free but please rsvp at - https://www.kingmanor.org/
This weekend at the Museum of the Moving Image at 36-01 35th Avenue in Astoria - Millers Crossing is being shown at 7 pm on Friday and 5.30 pm on Sunday, while Crooklyn is being shown at 1 pm on Saturday.
Sunday, March 5, 2023. The St. Pat's for All Parade in Sunnyside begins with speeches and music at 12 noon, and then kicks off from Skillman Avenue and 43rd Street in Sunnyside, Queens ending 15 blocks further east at 58th Street in Woodside. For further details on the St Pats for All Parade see - https://www.stpatsforall.org/
On Tuesday, March 7th [also on March 17th] beginning at 5 pm, there's a reading of Cryptochrome in tandem with the Rough Draft Festival at the LaGuardia Performing Arts Center at 31-10 Thomson Avenue in Long Island City. The reading is described as follows, " ... Cryptochrome is a freewheeling ritual meditation on wayfinding and navigation. Named after a protein believed to be responsible for the ability to navigate using the electromagnetic field, the work explores forms of perception and intuition beyond the limited scope of the visible. As a visually impaired artist in the process of losing my own sight, its central questions are both urgent and personal. Incorporating a score of original music and text, the work invites audiences on a kaleidoscopic journey across the animal kingdom––from echolocating bats in pitch black caves to birds migrating across featureless oceans––to unearth new insights about how we move through the world in relation to other creatures and one another...". For more details and to rsvp a free seat go to - https://www.lpac.nyc/.
Brooklyn Things To Do This Weekend
On Friday beginning at 6.30 pm Brooklyn Poets at 144 Montague Street in Brooklyn Heights is hosting a number of open mic readings. If you want to speak you have to rsvp a spot in advance. Featured speakers include Morgan Boyle and Joshua Garcia. For details and $7 tickets see - https://brooklynpoets.org/
The photo at right was taken late Monday night. We haven't seen snow all winter and its appearance on Monday was very fleeting ... or shall I say feeting?
On Friday at 7.30 pm, Saturday at 1.30 and 7.30, and Sunday at 3 pm there are performances of Black female author Lorraine Hansberry's epic drama entitled The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window in the Harvey Theatre at the Brooklyn Academy of Music at 651 Fulton Street in Brooklyn. They describe the play as follows, " ... Hansberry invites us into Greenwich Village in the 60s, crafting a razor-sharp portrait of a diverse group of friends whose progressive dreams can’t quite match reality. At the center are Sidney and Iris Brustein, fighting to see if their marriage—with all its crackling wit, passion, and petty cruelty—can survive Sidney’s ideals...". The play runs daily, except Mondays, through March 24th. For $35 & up tickets and details see - https://www.bam.org.
Bronx Things To Do This Weekend
A new exhibit entitled Queer Nature opened at Bronx Art Space at 700 Manida Street [near Spofford Avenue] in the Hunts Point neighborhood of the Bronx. The exhibit is described as, " ... One of the primary arguments against homosexuality is the belief that it is not deemed as "natural", therefore cannot be considered normal. Nature is often weaponized to justify homophobia and transphobia, falsely using biology as a means to enforce social constructs. Some cells reproduce asexually, same-sex behaviors occur in hundreds of species of animals, numerous plants and animals are hermaphroditic; many of them switching genders. How can one consider homosexuality unnatural when it is evident in nature? ...". We've been highlighting some of this information for years, as the links in the Staten Island section below, will show. The reason the discourse about gender, like race, is so messed up is that the mainstream media teleprompter readers seem as ignorant as their audiences. For details on the exhibit which also has a closing party on April 1st may be found at - http://www.bronxartspace.com.
OPEN CALL ARTISTS / CURATORS. Bronx Art Space has issued an open call to emerging art curators, with a deadline of March 19th, for an April Show. For details see - http://www.bronxartspace.com
MARCH 2ND CANCELLED DUE TO SPEAKER ISSUE. On Thursdays, March 2, 9 & 16, 2023 at from 7 - 8.30 pm, there's a lecture series, entitled 'Inspiring Beauty, at the Bartow Pell Mansion at 895 Shore Road in Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx. The art, photography and curatorial lecture series is about Hudson River Landscapes and Country Estates by one of three different experts each week. For $20 / $30 tickets and details see - https://www.bartowpellmansionmuseum.org.
The Orchid Show has returned to the New York Botanical Garden and will be there until April 23rd. This year the installation was designed by Lily Kwong a landscape artist who explores Asian cultural themes.
Staten Island Things To Do This Weekend
On Saturday from 6 - 8 pm at the Historic Richmond Town at the Guyon Tavern at 441 Clarke Avenue there's a concert by Lisa & Lori Brigantino and the experience is described as an, " ... indoor concert series ... in the restored Guyon Tavern, located on Richmond Road. The Tavern boasts a wood-burning stove, flickering candles, live music and the true feel of a 19th century saloon. Beverage options harken back to the period and include hot spiced apple cider, scratch made mulled wine, as well as a refreshing selection of beers....". For $18 tickets and event details see - https://www.historicrichmondtown.org
Sunday, March 5, 2023 the St. Patrick's Day Parade on Staten Island steps off at 12.30 pm. They begin at Harts Blvd marching along Forest Avenue in the Westerleigh / Elm Park neighborhoods to Jewett Avenue, in the West New Brighton neighborhood of Staten Island. Members of the LGBTQ community continue to be banned from participating in the parade. If you are interested in the truth about human sexuality and gender identification please view two previous reports we posted on gender identification and LGTBQ sexuality to better understand how some people's gender identity differs versus those of us in the mainstream. On the first linked report be sure to click into the link to the Metropolitan Museum's Nadar exhibit done in 1860 in Paris, but be advised the photograph is a bit shocking and not for the faint of heart.
The Lighthouse Museum at 200 The Promenade in the St. George neighborhood of Staten Island has ongoing exhibits about lighthouses and related subjects such as the equipment, the history and an exhibit about the first African American lighthouse keeper at Cape Henry Light, and another about another early African American Lighthouse keeper who played a role at the Pea Island Life Saving Station. For tickets and details see - https://lighthousemuseum.org.
Have a good one.
St Pats Day Parades in All 5 Boros of NYC
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.
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
Saturday, March 4, 2023. The Queens County St. Patrick's Day Parade in the Rockaways kicks off at 1 pm at Beach 130th and Newport Avenue. Church services at Francis de Sales Church [129th and Newport Avenue] will be held prior to the parade. The parade marches east down Newport Avenue to 116th Street, where it turns right / heads south one block to Rockaway Blvd - where it turns left and continues east down Rockaway Blvd to 102nd Street terminating near a shopping center parking lot. This parade is in the Rockaways neighborhood of Queens and as of 2023, this parade is in its 48th year.
For more details see - https://queenscountyparade.org/
Sunday, March 5, 2023. The St. Pat's for All Parade in Sunnyside begins with speeches and music at 12 noon, and then kicks off from Skillman Avenue and 43rd Street in Sunnyside, Queens ending 15 blocks further east at 58th Street in Woodside. The St Pats for All Parade was founded in 2000 in response to the Manhattan St Pats Parade boycott of LGBTQ folks marching as openly gay. The Manhattan St Pats Parade has since dropped that policy and permits openly gay members of the community to march in the parade.
The photo at right was taken at the St Pats for All Parade in Sunnyside in 2012. This link will take you to a section of our coverage of the St Pats Parades in Queens NYC. Please be advised that as of this post [2/27/23] we've not finished cleaning up the linked section since we migrated to a new web platform late last year. Those 'elements' in the linked report represent stories we need to add back as the 'elements' technology from the old platform no longer functions.
For further details on the St Pats for All Parade see - https://www.stpatsforall.org/
Saturday, March 25, 2023 beginning at 1 pm the Bayside St. Patrick's Day Parade marches down Bell Blvd between 35th and 42nd Avenues. The parade is a fairly new one, now in its fifth or sixth year [2023].
For further details see their Facebook page - www.facebook.com/baysidestpatricksdayparade as their website as of this post on 2.28.23 is currently having issues - www.baysidesaintpatricksdayparade.org.
St Patricks Day Parades on Staten Island NYC
Sunday, March 5, 2023 the St. Patrick's Day Parade on Staten Island steps off at 12.30 pm. They begin at Harts Blvd marching along Forest Avenue in the Westerleigh / Elm Park neighborhoods to Jewett Avenue, in the West New Brighton neighborhood of Staten Island. Members of the LGBTQ community continue to be banned from participating in the parade.
In additional signs of how far behind the times the Staten Island St Pats Day Parade committee is, they don't appear to have a website and the only Facebook page was last updated in 2020. I suspect it's just a matter of time before the parade committee gets off their high horses and does the right thing, which is to welcome all members of their community to participate in the parade, and quit discriminating against some of them.
The photo at right was taken at the Staten Island St Pats Parade in 2018 or 2019. Click here to view our report on St Pat's Day Irish Pubs, Bars & Restaurants Staten Island NYC. The report currently contains an update of the LGBTQ issue, which we expect to remove from that page and place it on this one, as we now have a page of the parades.
As mentioned above, I couldn't find a parade website nor an up-to-date Facebook page as of this post [2/28/23].
St Patricks Day Parades in the Bronx NYC & Yonkers
On Sunday, March 12, 2023 beginning at 12 noon the Throggs Neck St Pats Parade in the Bronx steps off at Lafayette and East Tremont Avenue. The parade marches south on East Tremont Avenue, through the Throgs Neck commercial district, ending about a mile later at Harding and East Tremont Avenue, where a mobile stage is usually set up for parade speechs and entertainment. The parade lasts about an hour, but the festivities go on far longer.
The photo at right was taken at the Throggs Neck St Patricks Day Parade in 2018.
For further details see their blogspot page at - http://tnsaintpatricksdayparade.blogspot.com/
On Saturday, March 18, 2023 beginning at 1 pm, the 65th Annual Yonkers St. Patrick's Parade will march up what they call the Emerald Mile, along McLean Avenue from Bronx River Road / Webster Avenue to Coyne Park in Yonkers.
The photo at right, was taken in early March of 2020, showing John Mulligans Fireside Pub along Katonah Avenue in the Woodlawn Heights neighborhoof of the Bronx. The blocks along Katonah Avenue south of McLean are home to a lot of Bronx Irish. See the reports below for details.
On Friday beginning at 11 am, the NYC St Patrick's Day Parade in Manhattan begins on 5th Avenue at 44th Street and marches up to 79th Street. There are generally about 150,000 participants and about two million spectators. Click these links for Irish pub suggestions for each borough.
The Manhattan St Pats Parade in New York City first stepped off in 1762. The parade continued through the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Civil War, WWI & WWII, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the Middle East Wars since the 1990's. In the early years beneficial societies took over organizing the event, followed by the Ancient Order of Hiberians in 1852, and in the 1990's this was followed by the transference of the parade management to local groups and organizations.
The parade generally adhered to 'traditional values' which meant that LGBTQ members of the community weren't allowed to march as openly gay human beings. The banning of LGBTQ participation became an issue in the late 1980's and early 1990's as AIDs 'invisibly' swept through the LGBTQ community. Some say 'invisibly' because they say the LGBTQ community members weren't given a proper amount of attention by the media and government officials, and were excluded from public events such as the St Pats Parade.
The LGBTQ controversy swelled up until in 2014, when then Mayor Bill de Blasio, along with many other high ranking government officials, refused to participate in the parade as long as it discriminated against gay participation. Guinness Brewing Company quickly followed suit, withdrawing its sponsorship. By 2015 the parade committee had invited a gay group from Universal NBC, which had broadcast rights to the parade, to march in it, in a sign that things were shifting. In 2018 the parade officially opened the parade to LGBTQ marchers. In 2014 less than a quarter million people watched the parade on TV.
Sunday, March 19, 2023 beginning at 12.30 pm, the Brooklyn Saint Patrick's Parade kicks off at Prospect Park West and 15th St [assembly stretches to 9th St]. The parade marches to 7th Ave & Garfield Place, back to Prospect Park West & 15th Street where there's a celebration from 2 - 5 pm in Bartel-Pritchard Square at 14th Street in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn. The parade was established in 1975 and is said to be the oldest St Patricks Day Parade in Brooklyn.
There's a St Patrick's Day Parade mass beginning at 10.30 am at Holy Name of Jesus Church at 245 Prospect Park West. St. Patrick's Day parades in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn NYC.
The photo at right was taken on St Pats Day in 2017 in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn.
For further details see their Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/people/Brooklyn-St-Patricks-Parade/100067529770947/ because as of this post their website was out of date - https://brooklynstpatricksparade.org/
On Sunday, March 26, 2023 the Bay Ridge Brooklyn Saint Patrick's Parade kicks off at 1 pm on 3rd and Marine Avenues and marches north along 3rd Avenue to 67th Street ending in Owl's Head Park in Bayridge. This parade was first established in 1993.
The photo at right was taken at the 2022 St Pats Parade in the Bay Ridge neighborhood of Brooklyn.
For further details see - https://www.brparade.com/
Irish Farewell Greeting
May the sun shine warm upon your face, The rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of his hand. Erin go Bragh.
Have a good week.
Things to do This Weekend in NYC & Boros
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 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
OPEN CALL. For details see -
Manhattan Things To Do This Weekend
On Friday and Saturday from 2 - 5 pm there's an open fair connected to the Black HerStory weekend at Lincoln Center at Alice Tully and David Geffen Halls. The fair includes sound bath and astrology readings, books by Black female authors for sale, a poetry slam, hip hop dance performances and an all women DJ takeover. The Black HerStory Live concerts begin each evening at 5.30 pm. They describe the event as follows, " ... AFROPUNK and Lincoln Center come together for their largest collaboration to date, a 2-day festival takeover celebrating the Black woman’s journey to find her voice through music and performance. Audiences can expect an immersive multidisciplinary experience that represents the razor's edge in music, art, poetry, dance, performance art, and much more—all proudly featuring Black women artists from around the world...". For
The One Act Festival at the Chain Theatre at 312 West 36th Street, 3rd Floor, ends this weekend. There are performances that begin between 6.30 - 7.30 pm on each weekend night. For $22 tickets and more details see - https://www.chaintheatre.org/.
Fresh, Fly and Fabulous is on exhibit at the Fashion Institute of Management at 227 West 27th Street in Chelsea from February 8th to April 23rd. The exhibit is dedicated to Hip Hop not just as music and fashion, but as a lifestyle and cultural statement. Hip Hop celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Wednesday - Friday from noon to 8 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 10 am - 5 pm. There's an all day symposium on Friday, February 24th. For details see - https://www.fitnyc.edu/
Queens Things To Do This Weekend
On Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 4 pm, from February 2nd to 26th, there will be performances of Senor Bolero at the Thalia Spanish Theatre in Sunnyside. The play is described as a musical comedy about "... love in the times of the bolero. A famous 1960 singer is hired to perform a concert without imagining that fate will lead her to find the love of her life in the least expected way... ". For $45 / $42 / $40 tickets [English / Spanish] and details see - https://thaliatheatre.org/
On Saturday at 3 pm and Sunday at 2 pm, the Afrikan Poetry Society has organized a Black History Month Film Festival at the Museum of the Moving Image at 36-01 35th Avenue in Astoria. For $15 / $11 / $9 tickets and details see - https://movingimage.us
This is the last weekend to see Henrike Naumann's Re-Education and Tirzah at the Sculpture Center at 44-19 Purves Street in Long Island City. For details see https://www.sculpture-center.org/. The exhibits are described as follows, "... Henrike Naumann’s installations of furniture and design objects are composed as scenes that ask pressing and enduring questions: What is the relationship between design and ideology? How should one read the politics of design?... AND ... Tirzah is an exhibition of the British musician’s music video output installed in an immersive video and audio environment across SculptureCenter’s lower-level spaces..." .
On Saturday from 1 - 1.40 pm there is a tour at the Louis Armstrong House at 34-56 107th Street in Corona Queens about the role played by Armstrong in the Civil Rights movement. For $15/ $12 tickets and details see - https://www.louisarmstronghouse.org/
Flushing Town Hall opened a photo exhibit, entitled This is Home, on January 21 and it runs through February 26th. The exhibit shows excerpts from some of the lives of Asian Americans living in NYC, both here and abroad. For details see https://www.flushingtownhall.org/.
On Monday at 11 am there will be a pool reopening ceremony at the Flushing Aquatic Center in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. The $67 million [new] pool has been closed for years due to problems with the moveable track floor.
Brooklyn Things To Do This Weekend
The Brooklyn Childrens Museum is hosting a Black Future Festival this weekend from 10 am - 5 pm daily. They describe the event as follows, " ... reflection and future-forward fun inspired by the national celebration of peoples of the African Diaspora and Black History Month. Together with festival curator Àṣẹ Dance Theater Collective, experience interactive dance performances, storytelling, genealogy workshops, art-making in the ColorLab art studio, tasty food, and more...". For $13 / $12 tickets and details see - https://www.brooklynkids.org
On Friday at 7.30 pm, Saturday at 1.30 and 7.30, and Sunday at 3 pm there are performances of Black female author Lorraine Hansberry's epic drama entitled The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window in the Harvey Theatre at the Brooklyn Academy of Music at 651 Fulton Street in Brooklyn. They describe the play as follows, " ... Hansberry invites us into Greenwich Village in the 60s, crafting a razor-sharp portrait of a diverse group of friends whose progressive dreams can’t quite match reality. At the center are Sidney and Iris Brustein, fighting to see if their marriage—with all its crackling wit, passion, and petty cruelty—can survive Sidney’s ideals...". For $35 & up tickets and details see - https://www.bam.org.
Bronx Things To Do This Weekend
On Friday at 7 pm, Saturday at 4 pm & 7 pm, and Sunday at 2 pm, there's a play, entitled 'Insignificant', being performed at the Bartow Pell Mansion at xyz in the Bronx. The play is described as follows, " ... At Harvard University in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Cecilia Payne, Annie Jump Cannon, and the group of women known as the “Harvard Computers” overcame prejudice, denigration, and opposition to change the course of modern astronomy and developed revolutionary systems to chart and measure stars that remain in use today. Their battles for recognition, respect, and equality are still being fought by women in the 21st century ...". For $35 tickets and details see - https://www.bartowpellmansionmuseum.org.
OPEN CALL ARTISTS / CURATORS. Bronx Art Space has issued an open call to emerging art curators, with a deadline of March 19th, for an April Show. For details see - http://www.bronxartspace.com
Staten Island Things To Do This Weekend
On Saturday beginning from 1 tp 2.30 pm at the Historic Richmond Town at 441 Clarke Avenue there's a Bookbinding Workshop. Later on Saturday from 6 - 8 pm there's a concert by Brother Dynamite who are described as, " ... Brother Dynamite is a Staten Island-based acoustic duo featuring Shawn Moynihan and Alan Miller who have been performing together for 35 years. They play original songs, including selections from their new album "If We Dare," as well as songs by some of Folk and Rock's greatest performers...". For $20 / $18 tickets and event details see - https://www.historicrichmondtown.org
On Sunday beginning at 3 pm the Lighthouse Museum at 200 The Promenade in the St. George neighborhood of Staten Island will officially open its African American Exhibit. This will be followed at 4 pm by a lecture about Willis Hodges who was the first African American Lighthouse Keeper in 1870. There are also ongoing exhibits about lighthouses and related subjects such as the equipment, the history and there's also a small exhibit about the first African American lighthouse keeper at Cape Henry Light, and another about another early African American Lighthouse keeper who played a role at the Pea Island Life Saving Station. For tickets and details see - https://lighthousemuseum.org.
Have a good one.
Black History Month in NYC
This is a Look at Some of the Black History Events We've Covered Over the Years
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.
Paying Tribute to Black History in Queens NYC
Flushing / Corona Historic Houses. The next few links are short stories we did based on taking the Flushing historic house tour which occurs every December in Queens. The Louis Latimer House is dedicated to one of the first African American scientists who worked with Thomas Edison. The Louis Armstrong House is also on that tour, and does quite a bit of their cultural programming during the summer. King Manor is also an historic house in Jamaica, owned by a white Founding Father, who was an ardent abolitionist. It's no surprise that African Americans congregated in the area, given what this Founding Father and former NYS Senator stood for.
Queens & African American Music. Queens is called the Home of Jazz because at one time there were literally dozens and more of African Americans living in Queens during the heyday of jazz in the 1930's. Dizzy Gillespie, Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald are just a few who enjoyed living in Queens because it was a melting pot of black, brown and white folks living together in a generally peaceful and respectful manner.
York College Bassin Performing Arts Center / Theater in Jamaica. In the past the Bassin Center for the Performing Arts at York College used to stage a number of productions each season. One of the most interesting performances was the 2013 production of Black Wall Street which opened my eyes to a story of which I had never previously heard. They also hosted a one man performance of Langston Hughes which recaptured the life and times of a Harlem Renaissance writer and playwright. In addition to productions they helped choreograph, the Bassin Center for the PAC would host performances by local theater groups, including one by a local church that packed a message in the play. And in 2015 the Liberian President speaks at York College. It's worth mentioning that Liberia is a nation on the coast of West Africa that was started by Americans who helped freed and free born African Americans migrate to Liberia, to carve out a non-discriminatory life for themselves.
Jamaica Music Festivals. There are a number of food and music festivals held annually in the Jamaica neighborhood of Queens. A few of them have not returned, but others have grown to take their place. The Irie Jamboree was a reggae music festival, celebrating reggae music which is more Afro-Caribbean than Afro American. The Jamaica Jerk Festival is held in Roy Wilkins Park every year. It's generally an Afro-Caribbean food and musical experience.
Jamaica JAMS. Jamaica JAMS is one of the largest events in Queens generally the first weekend of August. The event spans a couple of days and includes a concert on Friday evening in King Park, followed by a food and shopping festival the next day. The Jamaica JAMS food and shopping festival in 2011 and the Jamaica JAMS Festival concert including video in 2015.
African American Dance, Theater & Culture. In recent years there's been a robust Jamaica Performing Arts Center dance festival. It seems to continue morphing, but is always worth attending. A number of years ago we used to visit John Watusi, Founder of the Afrikan Poetry Theater. It was in attending one of his programs that I first learned about Kwanzaa in December / January 2010, and I had the privilege of watching the first Obama Inauguration with him on January 20, 2009. Unfortunately, John Watusi died on December 29, 2013 of a heart attack [see photo at right].
Paying Tribute to Black History Month in the Bronx NYC
Bronx Zoo. There's a terrible, seemingly racist, story associated with one of the early founders of the Bronx Zoo. The story demonstrates two things: 1) it highlights the discriminatory, disrespectful and racist attitude of the times, and 2) it also demonstrates that there are people in our society who do have a proper moral compass, and who have stood up for righteous causes when they became aware of abuses. It's one incident initiated by one person, that happened over a century ago. Otherwise, the Bronx Zoo, as an institution, has done a lot of good.
The Universal Hip Hop Museum is set to open in 2023 in its new home at 610 Exterior Street in the Concourse neighborhood of the Bronx.
Inwood Fashion Show. We did a short report on an Inwood Fashion Show that attracted a lot Bronx contestants that didn't return during the pandemic. We'll keep an eye out for it or its replacement this coming year.
Paying Tribute to Black History Month in Brooklyn NYC
The photo at right shows Ebbetts Field in Brooklyn, which at the time was the home of the Brooklyn Dodgers. Jackie Robinson and the Brooklyn Dodgers broke the color line, opening up major league baseball to people of all skin colors. It wasn't too long before all major league sports started recruiting athletes based on talent - not skin color.
African American Parade Harlem. The African American Parade happens every September in Harlem. It's the largest African American parade in the nation arising out of the 1968 Civil Rights struggle and celebrates African American contributions to American culture. Manhattan was home to the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920's and 1930's when writers like E.B. Dubois and Langston Hughes began to forge their way onto the American literary stage, while musicians like Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald became mainstream musical stars.
The photo at right was taken at the African American Parade in Harlem a few years ago.
Charlie Parker Jazz Fest. There's the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival which takes place every year, splitting the events between Harlem and the East Village, as Charlie spent a lot of his time in both places. Charlie Parker, a saxaphonist, is credited with inventing bebop, which evolved jazz from a dance music to an acoustical performance and we celebrate his contributions annually.
There's an African American burial ground in lower Manhattan on Duane Street at Elk Street, two blocks directly north of City Hall. About 490 African Americans were buried there in the late 17th and 18th centuries when New York was a very small town by the standards of today.
The Affordable Care Act, which provides for affordable healthcare insurance for all Americans, was nicknamed Obamacare, after our first African American President, Barack Obama, who pushed for and signed the legislation into law. President Biden, since becoming president himself, has increased enrollments by 50% according to a January 2023 report in Yahoo News.
The Apollo Theater in Harlem. Former Mayor de Blasio gave his 2017 State of the City Address at the Apollo theater in Harlem. So this link will take you to a report of what he said, but it includes a few photos of the legendary theater which turns 89 in September of this year. The theater was the springboard for the careers of James Brown and Jimi Hendrix [among others] and the locale of the last live performance by Michael Jackson.
Mayor Eric Adams is the second African American Mayor of NYC. We covered him in a meeting earlier this year. Scroll down to January 13, 2023 report for photo and caption.
Paying Tribute to Black History on Staten Island NYC
Sandy Ground Underground Railroad. We're in the process of exploring a site which was reportedly the first non-slave African American purchasing land in New York State, shortly after NYS outlawed slavery in 1828. This area, called Sandy Ground, later became a part of the underground railroad on Staten Island, where escaping slaves crossed over from Perth Amboy, where many slave traders lurked, hoping to capture the escaped slaves before they became freemen by arriving on Staten Island. There was a home / museum in this same area [Rossville on the southern end of the island], which recently closed [2022] due to funding issues. This is an opportunity to reclaim some of our history.
You can also scroll down to our MLK Day Weekend reports to find other venues that are relevant to African American history, particularly in their struggle for equality and Civil Rights.
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.
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
OPEN CALL FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE GRANTS. For details see - https://www.citizensnyc.org/
Manhattan Things To Do This Weekend
On Friday, February 10, 2023 from 6 - 9 pm the Museum of the City of New York at 1220 5th Avenue on the UES is hosting a pre-Valentine's Day party that is described as follows, " ... Cocktails & Culture ... groove to DJ LiKWUiD's signature "traphrobeats” blending house music, hip hop and afrobeats, with live sets by trumpeter Nash Guillermo ... stroll through the Museum's galleries, then decorate a sweet treat with your sweetheart at our pop-up bakery, Avrilililly's Creamery, and capture your evening at our interactive photobooth. Enjoy savory bites by UGC eats, plus Love Potion cocktails, mocktails and other libations from the MCNY Bar ...". For $45 / $39 / $25 kids / teens tickets [ includes museum admission] and details see - www.mcny.org.
On Sunday, February 12 beginning at 1 pm the Chinese Lunar New Year parade begins in Chinatown. The parade steps off at the corner of Mott and Hester Street marching down to Chatham Square, then heads across East Broadway and up Forsyth Street, ending in Sara D. Roosevelt Park. Like the Queens Lunar New Year parade, this actually occurs outside of the official Chinese Lunar New Year dates.
Fresh, Fly and Fabulous is on exhibit at the Fashion Institute of Management at 227 West 27th Street in Chelsea from February 8th to April 23rd. The exhibit is dedicated to Hip Hop not just as music and fashion, but as a lifestyle and cultural statement. Hip Hop celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Wednesday - Friday from noon to 8 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 10 am - 5 pm. There's an all day symposium on Friday, February 24th. For details see - https://www.fitnyc.edu/
Broadway Week [it's really Broadway Month] began on January 17 and is ending on Sunday, February 12th. Most Broadway shows participate, where theater goers can purchase two tickets for the price of one. Search for the Broadway shows you're interested in seeing to see if they are participating.
NEXT WEEK. On Tuesday, February 14, 2023 beginning at 7 pm the Merchants House Museum at 29 East 4th Street in the East Village / Bowery in Manhattan is hosting a Valentine's Day Concert, which they describe as follows, " ... The renowned Bond Street Euterpean Singing Society presents lush, romantic vocal selections by some of the world’s great 19th-century composers including Beethoven, Liszt, Richard Strauss, Amy Beach, Johann Strauss II, and others performed in the Museum’s authentic Greek Revival double parlor. Singers Anthony Bellov, Amy Gluck, Jane Elizabeth Rady, and Dayle Vander Sande. ...". For $50 / $35 / $20 / $15 tickets and details see - www.merchantshouse.org / 212.777.1089.
Brooklyn Things To Do This Weekend
On Friday, February 10th, the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music is hosting a concert beginning at 7.30 pm at St. Ann and the Holy Trinity Church at 157 Montague Street in Brooklyn Heights. They are performing Mozart's Requiem and other songs of reassurance and renewal. Tickets are $20 / $15 at https://bkcm.org/.
CLICK this link for some shopping destinations for Valentine's Day gifts in NYC. These are not paid ads, but a curated list of shops in some of the boroughs.
On Saturday, February 11, 2023 beginning at 8 pm / doors open at 6.30 pm at the Kings Theatre in Flatbush there's Gregory Porter live. They describe the event as follows: " ... the man's bone-deep baritone ... the air change(s) as the warmth of his sound filled the atmosphere like a hug from above ... [his new album] All Rise [is] his sixth studio album ... marks a return to Porter's beloved original songwriting — heart-on-sleeve lyrics imbued with everyday philosophy and real-life detail, set to a stirring mix of jazz, soul, blues, and gospel ... represents the evolution of Porter's art to something even more emphatic, emotive, intimate, and universal too. After 2017's Nat King Cole & Me, Porter knew two things: one, he'd bring in an orchestra for his next LP (check), and, two, music is medicine. In the spirit of that latter revelation, All Rise brims with songs about irrepressible love, plus a little protest, because the road to healing is bumpy ...". At 1027 Flatbush Avenue in Flatbush Ditmas neighborhood of Brooklyn. For details and tickets that range from $59 - $63, see - https://www.kingstheatre.com.
NEXT WEEK. On Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, February 13, 15 & 16 beginning at 6.30 pm at PS 9 - The Sarah Smith Garnet School - at 80 Underhill Avenue in Brooklyn there will be a working group meeting to discuss the Atlantic Avenue Mixed Use Plan. They describe the project as follows, "... The plan aims to bring homes, jobs, and improved infrastructure to this important Brooklyn corridor and neighboring blocks in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Crown Heights, and Prospect Heights – while also knitting together these vibrant communities currently divided by Atlantic Avenue...". The meetings are dedicated to housing [2/13], jobs [2/15] and infrastructure [2/16]. Free and all are welcome to attend.
NEXT WEEK. On Tuesday, February 14 beginning at 7.30 pm there's a concert entitled Love, Loneliness & Lamentation by the Voices of Ascension Singers and Players as part of the 2023 Winter Festival. The concert will be held at the Roulette Intermedium at 509 Atlantic Avenue in the Boerum Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn. For details and tickets [$20] see - https://www.voicesofascension.org/
NEXT WEEK. On Thursday, February 16 beginning at 6.30 pm there's a South Central Brooklyn United for Progress Zoom meeting. On the agenda are two items which they describe as follows, "... the proposed Coney Island casino ... hear from local activist, Ida Sanoff, about what she feels the impact of this would be as a longtime member of the community ... will also honor founding member Ellen Bilofsky's legacy as a healthcare activist with a New York Health Act presentation ... talk about the rights you have under our current for-profit healthcare system that you may not be aware of ... hope to demonstrate why Medicare for All is the most logical and just, solution.".
Queens Things To Do This Weekend
On Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 4 pm, from February 2nd to 26th, there will be performances of Senor Bolero at the Thalia Spanish Theatre in Sunnyside. The play is described as a musical comedy about "... love in the times of the bolero. A famous 1960 singer is hired to perform a concert without imagining that fate will lead her to find the love of her life in the least expected way... ". For $45 / $42 / $40 tickets [English / Spanish] and details see - https://thaliatheatre.org/
Flushing Town Hall opened a photo exhibit, entitled This is Home, on January 21 and it runs through February 26th. The exhibit shows excerpts from some of the lives of Asian Americans living in NYC, both here and abroad. For details see https://www.flushingtownhall.org/.
NEXT WEEK. On Thursday, February 16 from 6.30 - 8.30 pm Materials For The Arts at 3300 Northern Blvd in Long Island City will be hosting a Lunar New Year mask making event using recycled materials. They are doing this in tandem with the Asian American Arts Alliance. For details see - https://www.liclny.com/events/mfta-and-asian-american-arts-alliance-celebrate-lunar-new-year.
TWO WEEKS. The Queens Short Play Festival begins February 21st and runs through March 18th at the Secret Theatre at 38-02 61st Street in Woodside. For details and tickets which cost $15 / $23, see - https://secrettheatre.com
Bronx Things To Do This Weekend
On Saturday, February 11th from 6 pm to 10 pm there's a Valentine’s Day Comedy Night at the Sankofa Haus [an event venue] at 2422 3rd Avenue in the Port Morris neighborhood of the Bronx. It's a couples therapy comedic act featuring four performers. Music and drinks [?] are included in the price of $84. For tickets and details see - https://gregandcherylclarke.com.
On Saturday, February 11th beginning at 6 pm in the Auditorium at the Community Center at 177 Dreiser Loop in / near Coop City there's a Valentine's Day Weekend Night of Classic Soul. The event features five different groups performing 1970's classic rock / soul. For $81 tickets and details see - https://www.facebook.com/rcaheartandsoulprod/
On Sunday, February 12, 2023 from 1 - 3 pm, there's a 'Swagger & Tenderness' book signing at the Bronx Museum at 1040 Grand Concourse. The event features artist / sculptors John Ahearn and Rigoberto Torres who have been lifecasting the Bronx unique cultural identity through their various works. It's free but you should rsvp see - https://bronxmuseum.org.
There is an opening reception from 7 - 9 pm for Richard Sandler's new photo exhibit entitled 'The Eyes of the City'at the Doc Film Center at 364 East 151st Street. Sandler has been photographing NYC since the 1970's capturing a changing landscape, demography and art and architectural landscape. It's free but you must rsvp. Sandler is hosting a street photography workshop prior to the reception from 10 am - 5 pm [it costs $475 and includes other things you need to do to enroll]. For details see - https://www.bronxdoc.org.
Pregones / PRTT presents its 7th annual 21 Islands International Short Film Fest via streaming for free from February 1 - 12, 2023. For details see - https://pregonesprtt.org/
OPEN CALL ARTISTS / CURATORS. Bronx Art Space has issued an open call to emerging art curators, with a deadline of March 19th, for an April Show. For details see - http://www.bronxartspace.com
Staten Island Things To Do This Weekend
On Saturday beginning at 1 and 3 pm at the Historic Richmond Town there's a Valentine's Card Workshop in the main building at Court and Center Streets. It's for kids and adults age 3 on up. For details and tickets [$15] you get the materials and instructions for making three old fashioned cards. For details see - https://www.historicrichmondtown.org
On Saturday beginning at 7 pm there's a Valentine's themed event entitled Lighthouses are for Lovers and Friends, which includes live entertainment and dinner for $60 at the Lighthouse Museum at 200 The Promenade in the St. George neighborhood of Staten Island. There are also ongoing exhibits about lighthouses and related subjects such as the equipment, the history and there's also a small exhibit about the first African American lighthouse keeper at Cape Henry Light, and another about another early African American Lighthouse keeper who played a role at the Pea Island Life Saving Station. For tickets and details see - https://lighthousemuseum.org.
Also you may use the links above to find a local restaurant for a Valentine's Day / Weekend repast.
Have a good one.
Black History Month in NYC
Scratching the Surface of Our Ancestoral African Roots
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.
The Role of Lewisohn Stadium in Harlem and Famous African American Musicians & Sports Figures
In August 1946, Billie Holiday, Boxing Champion Joe Louis, and others hosted a benefit concert at Lewisohn Stadium in Harlem for Woodard. Lewisohn Stadium was built on a CUNY property in 1915 between 136th and 138th Streets and between Amsterdam and Convent Avenue. It was demolished in 1973 and replaced by the North Academic Center in 1985.
In November of 1946 Police Chief Shulman stood on trial, and was - as expected - acquitted after only 30 minutues of deliberation. The deliberation would have been far shorter had the Judge, Julius Waring, not stepped out of the court room for a walk. The Judge was so outraged at the police chief's behavior and that of the jury as well, that he decided to make them wait.
Anyhow, the justice comes years later, when JudgeWaring presided over another trial, Briggs vs Elliot. Like the Woodard case, it was argued that the racist Jim Crow laws of South Carolina, claiming separate but equal, were a farce and therefore unconstitutional. Judge Waring wrote the dissenting opinion of that case, which like Woodard's had been unrighteously decided, and justice aided in going awry.
Attorney Thurgood Marshall Eventually Becomes the First African American Supreme Court Justice
African American Thurgood Marshall prosecuted the case, arguing for equal treatment and resources, for the poor black children of Clarendon County South Carolina. He proved that they were being harmed by this treatment. And while he lost in the state court of South Carolina, he won a unanimous verdict from the Supreme Court in 1954, which was a pretty 'radical' decision for the time. This was the beginning of the end for racial segregation.
Thurgood Marshall would eventually go on to become the first African American Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in 1967.
The Freedom Riders, Martin Luther King, the Kennedys & Johnson
The Freedom Riders came next, in 1961, wherein they protested the racist separation of blacks and whites in intra state buses and stations. The focus of the rides was between Alabama and Mississippi, likely the two most racist states in the nation. In this situation, in May of 1961, Martin Luther King came into support the freedom riders, but he chose not ride with them.
As part of their organizing, there was a large gathering of African American civil rights protesters in a Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. While they were meeting inside with Dr. King and other leaders, an even larger white crowd gathered around the church, determined to 'teach a lesson' to these civil rights activists.
Attorney General Robert Kennedy was determined to help African Americans attain equal status under the law, including exercising their right to vote. He managed to use his influence to get Alabama Governor John Patterson to call up the National Guard to help disperse the white crowd and maintain the peace. Kennedy had to strong arm the Governor, who at one point said he could protect everyone in the church except Martin Luther King. Kennedy held his ground and told the Governor that was unacceptable, so eventually the Governor backed down and the situation was safely defused.
The Kennedys pushed to pass a Civil Rights Bill in 1963 which failed. It took the assassination of JFK and Lyndon Johnson's skillful politicking to pass the bill in 1964, with more to come in 1965. In 2008 the first African American, Barack Obama, was elected President, but the work is not done.
Black History Provides Another Important Perspective & Therefore Understanding of our Past
Racism is still alive and well, not just in our country, but around the world. And it's not just people of color, but people of other ethnic groups, like Jews, Palestinians, Muslims, Hindus, Chinese, Uighurs and on, and on, and on. But for all the bad news, we are making progress ... slowly.
I'll have more on African American history, specifically as it relates to NYC next week. There are dozens of famous African Americans who either grew up here, or moved and lived a good part of their lives here.
Have a nice week.
Things to do This Weekend in NYC & Boros
LaGuardia Performing Arts Center, Chinese New Year Celebrations Continue & Artists Open Calls
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.
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
OPEN CALL FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE GRANTS. For details see - https://www.citizensnyc.org/
Manhattan Things To Do This Weekend
The Winter Jam is on Saturday from 11 am - 3 pm at the Rumsey Playfield in Central Park. This a winter themed event including skiing, sledding, dodgeball, ice bowling and other wintry sports. As we've really not had any snow this winter, the Parks Department has arranged to have snow machines there to provide what Mother Nature is no longer giving us.
Fresh, Fly and Fabulous is on exhibit at the Fashion Institute of Management at 227 West 27th Street in Chelsea from February 8th to April 23rd. The exhibit is dedicated to Hip Hop not just as music and fashion, but as a lifestyle and cultural statement. Hip Hop celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Wednesday - Friday from noon to 8 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 10 am - 5 pm. There's an all day symposium on Friday, February 24th. For details see - https://www.fitnyc.edu/
Broadway Week [it's really Broadway Month] began on January 17 and runs through February 12th. Most Broadway shows participate, where theater goers can purchase two tickets for the price of one.
NEXT WEEKEND. On February 12 beginning at 1 pm the Chinese Lunar New Year parade begins in Chinatown. The parade steps off at the corner of Mott and Hester Street marching down to Chatham Square, then heads across East Broadway and up Forsyth Street, ending in Sara D. Roosevelt Park. Like the Queens Lunar New Year parade, this actually occurs outside of the official Chinese Lunar New Year dates.
Brooklyn Things To Do This Weekend
The CPC celebration [see above entry] continues on Saturday, February 4, with Lunar New Year calligraphy, arts and crafts and trivia for prizes in the Auditorium at New Utrecht High School at 1601 80th Street, in collaboration with community partners from throughout South Brooklyn. For details see https://www.prospectpark.org/
The BAM Kids Festival is this weekend on Saturday and Sunday, February 4th & 5th. The event is being held at the Brooklyn Academy of Music at 30 Lafayette. For details and tickets see - https://www.bam.org.
On Saturday, February 4th from 11 am - 1 pm there's the Southern Brooklyn Lunar New Year Celebration in the New Utrecht High School Auditorium at 1601 80th Street. There will be a number of cultural performances and entertainment. It's free and it's organized by the Southern Brooklyn Asian Coalition. For details see - https://www.facebook.com/sbccnyc/
NEXT FRIDAY 2/10/23. The Brooklyn Conservatory of Music is hosting a concert on Friday, February 10th beginning at 7.30 pm at St. Ann and the Holy Trinity Church at 157 Montague Street in Brooklyn Heights. They are performing Mozart's Requiem and other songs of reassurance and renewal. Tickets are $20 / $15 at https://bkcm.org/.
Queens Things To Do This Weekend
On Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 4 pm, from February 2nd to 26th, there will be performances of Senor Bolero at the Thalia Spanish Theatre in Sunnyside. The play is described as a musical comedy about "... love in the times of the bolero. A famous 1960 singer is hired to perform a concert without imagining that fate will lead her to find the love of her life in the least expected way... ". For $45 / $42 / $40 tickets [English / Spanish] and details see - https://thaliatheatre.org/
On Sunday, February 5th beginning at 3 pm in the Colden Auditorium at Queens College at 153-49 Reeves Avenue there will be a performance by Nai Ni Chen Dance Company celebrating the Year of the Water Rabbit. For $15 tickets and details see - https://kupferbergcenter.org/
On Sunday, February 5th from 5 - 7 pm there's a Lunar New Year Celebration at the Tangram Atrium at 133-33 39th Avenue in Flushing. It's free and NYC Comptroller, U.S. Congresswoman Meng and Councilmember Sandra Ung will be there. For details and free tickets see - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lunar-new-year-celebration-tickets-505187257687
Flushing Town Hall opened a photo exhibit, entitled This is Home, on January 21 and it runs through February 26th. The exhibit shows excerpts from some of the lives of Asian Americans living in NYC, both here and abroad. For details see https://www.flushingtownhall.org/.
NEXT THURSDAY 2/9/23. The Chocolate Factory at 38-33 24th Street [at 39th Avenue] in the Dutch Kills section of Long Island City, is hosting a performance by Linda Mary Montano entitled 'An Interactive Life and Maybe No Art Experience' or 'Ma and the Seven Chakras' beginning at 8 pm. It's a collaboration that bridges art and life featuring four collaborators. Tickets [$15] and details at - https://chocolatefactorytheater.org or https://issueprojectroom.org.
IN TWO WEEKS. On Thursday, February 16 from 6.30 - 8.30 pm Materials For The Arts at 3300 Northern Blvd in Long Island City will be hosting a Lunar New Year mask making event using recycled materials. They are doing this in tandem with the Asian American Arts Alliance. For details see - https://www.liclny.com/events/mfta-and-asian-american-arts-alliance-celebrate-lunar-new-year.
OPEN CALL ACTING. Auditions for two short plays, Molting and Snug The Joiner, are to be held February 25, March 4, 10 & 16. Winners will perform in the Queens Short Play Festival being held in the Secret Theatre in their new location. For details see - https://secrettheatre.com
Bronx Things To Do This Weekend
OPEN CALL ARTISTS. The Bartow Pell Mansion has issued an Open Call to artists to participate in a nearly month-long exhibition in March of this year. The theme of the exhibit is Nature Inspires: Contemporary Art Show. The deadline for submissions is February 3rd, 2023. For details see - https://www.bartowpellmansionmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Call-to-Artists-Nature-Inspires.pdf
Pregones / PRTT presents its 7th annual 21 Islands International Short Film Fest via streaming for free from February 1 - 12, 2023. For details see - https://pregonesprtt.org/
The Bronx Museum at 1040 Grand Concourse has been featuring a Black History book club weekly. This Saturday from 12 noon to 1.30 pm is the last session, where they talk about the end of the book 'Begin Again' by Eddie S. Glaude Jr. For details and rsvp see - https://bronxmuseum.org. Maximum attendees is 30.
The Doc Film Center at 614 Cortlandt Avenue is hosting a couple of photography skills classes beginning at 10 am [dark room / film processing] and at 11 am [digital photography]. Both classes cost over $100 each as they cover not just this class, but more including some materials. The Doc Film Center stated they can help folks finance the class/es. For details see - https://www.bronxdoc.org
OPEN CALL ARTISTS / CURATORS. Bronx Art Space has issued an open call to emerging art curators, with a deadline of March 19th, for an April Show. For details see - http://www.bronxartspace.com
Staten Island Things To Do This Weekend
On Saturday from 6 - 8 pm at the Historic Richmond Town there's a Grassland Band Concert at the Tavern. And on Wednesday from 7.30 - 9.30 pm there's an English Country Dance. For details and tickets [$18 and $10 respectively] see - https://www.historicrichmondtown.org
There are ongoing exhibits about lighthouses and related subjects at the Lighthouse Museum at 200 The Promenade in the St. George neighborhood of Staten Island. There's also a small exhibit about the first African American lighthouse keeper at Cape Henry Light, and another of the Pea Island Life Saving Station.
Have a good one.
Things to do This Weekend in NYC & Boros
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.
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
Manhattan Things To Do This Weekend
On Saturday, January 28 from 1 - 4.30 pm and from 6 - 9.30 pm there's a Wine Tasting at Chelsea Industrial at 535-549 West 28th Street in Manhattan. For $19 tickets and details see - https://winefestnewyork.com.
The Winter Boat Show began at the Javits Center at 35th Street and 11th Avenue on Wednesday and runs through Sunday, January 29th. Tickets are $20 / $17 / $15. For details see - https://www.nyboatshow.com/.
On Saturday & Sunday, January 28 & 29 from 10 am t0 5 pm there's a Year of the Rabbit Lunar New Year Fair at the East Broadway Mall at 88 East Broadway in Chinatown. The market is comprised of about a dozen vendors selling food, embroidery, jewelry, clothes, Taiwanese objects, art and stationery. For details see - https://welcometochinatown.com.
The Joyce Theatre American Dance Platform began Tuesday, January 10th and the Winter Jazz Festival began on Thursday, January 12th. It's all part of the January Arts Festival - https://www.janartsnyc.org/ which runs through most of this month of January 2023.
The Winter Show [formerly Winter Antiques Show] has returned to the Park Avenue Amory on the Upper East Side and the show runs through Sunday. For details see https://www.thewintershow.org/.
On February 12 beginning at 1 pm the Chinese Lunar New Year parade begins in Chinatown. The parade steps off at the corner of Mott and Hester Street marching down to Chatham Square, then heads across East Broadway and up Forsyth Street, ending in Sara D. Roosevelt Park. Like the Queens Lunar New Year parade, this actually occurs outside of the official Chinese Lunar New Year dates.
Brooklyn Things To Do This Weekend
On Saturday, January 28 from 2 to 5 pm there's a Lunar New Year Celebration organized by the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership at Albee Square where DeKalb, Bond and Fulton Streets meet. It will have lion dancing among other performances. For details see - https://www.downtownbrooklyn.com.
On Saturday, January 28th from 11 am to 2 pm, the CPC [Chinese-American Planning Council] will co-host a Lunar New Year Event in Sunset Park Recreation Center at 4200 7th Avenue in the Sunset Park neighborhood of Brooklyn. The event activities include a traditional lion dance, performances, giveaways, interactive games, raffles and contests. For details see - https://www.cpc-nyc.org/events/cpc-bcs-lunar-new-year-celebration-2023-year-rabbit
NEXT WEEK. The CPC celebration [see above entry] continues on Saturday, February 4, with Lunar New Year calligraphy, arts and crafts and trivia for prizes in the Auditorium at New Utrecht High School at 1601 80th Street, in collaboration with community partners from throughout South Brooklyn. For details see https://www.prospectpark.org/
Queens Things To Do This Weekend
On Friday and Saturday, at 7 pm and 2 pm respectively, a new original play entitled Lemons, will be performed at the LaGuardia Performing Arts Center at 31-10 Thomson Avenue in Long Island City. The play is described as, "... Exploring how social media, capitalism, and “positive thinking” affects our individual and collective relationship to grief, Lemons is a darkly funny four-person play centering on an obsession with a fitness guru's instagram account. A grieving woman presents a personal essay that quickly devolves into theatrical mayhem as her carefully constructed argument is interrupted and undermined by ghosts, fantasies, dance, and doom scrolling. Lemons is an examination of female strength, both physical and emotional, in the face of capitalist patriarchy. Exploring the intersection of capitalism and wellness culture/self-care, which is overwhelmingly marketed to women, Lemons looks at how societal expectations have come to inform our relationship to grief, our identities, our bodies, and each other...". For $15 tickets and details see - https://www.lpac.nyc/upcoming-events/lemons
The Chinese Lunar New Year in celebration of the year of the rabbit began Sunday, January 22, 2022 and runs through February 9th, 2023. Flushing Queens jumped the gun vis a vis the official lunar new year dates, by hosting its parade last Saturday, which was a day before the official start of the lunar new year.
On Sunday, January 29th from 3 to 4 pm Sunnyside Shines is hosting a Lion Dance and march from Lowery Plaza at 40th Street underneath the #7 train, along Queens Blvd to Bliss Plaza at 46th Street at Queens Plaza. Free.
Flushing Town Hall opened a photo exhibit, entitled This is Home, on January 21 and it runs through February 26th. The exhibit shows excerpts from some of the lives of Asian Americans living in NYC, both here and abroad. For details see https://www.flushingtownhall.org/.
On Tuesday, January 31 there's a reading of 'Brigid' as part of the Origin 1st Irish Festival, from 7 to 9 pm at the NY Irish Center at 1040 Jackson Avenue at 51st Avenue in Long Island City. For $2 tickets and details see - https://www.newyorkirishcenter.org
NEXT WEEKEND. On Sunday, February 5th beginning at 3 pm in the Colden Auditorium at Queens College at 153-49 Reeves Avenue there will be a performance by Nai Ni Chen Dance Company. See the full description below, as they will be performing at Hostos College in the Bronx this week.
IN TWO WEEKS. On Thursday, February 16 from 6.30 - 8.30 pm Materials For The Arts at 3300 Northern Blvd in Long Island City will be hosting a Lunar New Year mask making event using recycled materials. They are doing this in tandem with the Asian American Arts Alliance. For details see - https://www.liclny.com/events/mfta-and-asian-american-arts-alliance-celebrate-lunar-new-year.
Bronx Things To Do This Weekend
The Bartow Pell Mansion has issued an Open Call to artists to participate in a nearly month-long exhibition in March of this year. The theme of the exhibit is Nature Inspires: Contemporary Art Show. The deadline for submissions is February 3rd, 2023. For details see - https://www.bartowpellmansionmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Call-to-Artists-Nature-Inspires.pdf
On Sunday, January 29th, beginning at 3 pm there's a Nai Ni Chen Dance Company performances at Hostos College at 450 Grand Concourse in the Concourse neighborhood of the Bronx. The event is described as follows, "... In honor of Hip-Hop’s 50th year anniversary, the dance company will be performing a special rendition of the lion dance with a hip-hop rhythm. Other performances include YungGe from northern China, Peacock Dance from the southern Yunnan province, Spear Dance, and the crowd-favorite Dragon Dance...". Tickets are $12 / $10 / $5 at https://www.hostos.cuny.edu/
On Tuesday, January 31 beginning at 7.30 pm there's a musical performance entitled, Songs to the Unknown, which is a part of the Voices of the New 2023 Winter Festival at Roulette Intermedium at 509 Atlantic Avenue at 3rd Avenue in Boerum Hill in Brooklyn. For $20 tickets and details see www.voicesofascension.org/votn.
Staten Island Things To Do This Weekend
On Sunday, January 29, beginning at 6 pm there's a showing on the big screen of the classic Marilyn Monroe / Tony Curtis / Jack Lemmon movie - Some Like it Hot - at the St. George Theatre at 35 Hyatt Street on Staten Island. For $20 tickets and details see - https://stgeorgetheatre.com
There's an ongoing exhibit of a collection of stamps that features lighthouses prominently on them at the Lighthouse Museum at 200 The Promenade in the St. George neighborhood of Staten Island.
On Monday, January 30 from 8.30 - 4 pm the Alice Austen House Museum will be particpating into a program entitled Grow Into Yourself at the High School of Fashion Industries at 225 West 24th Street in Manhattan. Apparently Alice Austen was a lesbian photographer living on Staten Island.
Have a nice weekend.
Things to do This Weekend in NYC & Boros
The Winter Show at the Park Avenue Armory, The Chinese New Year of the Rabbit Begins, Winter Jazz Festival & the January Arts Festival continue
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
Manhattan Things To Do This Weekend
On Sunday from 11 am - 3.30 pm there's a Chinese Lunar New Year Firecracker celebration in Sara Roosevelt Park at Chrystie and Forsyth on the Lower East Side in East Chinatown.
Also on Sunday, but from 11 am - 1 pm nearby on Mott Street at Grand Street [if not there head south toward Canal Street], there's an artsy lantern reveal exhibition on the street by Think Chinatown. For details see https://www.thinkchinatown.org/
The Joyce Theatre American Dance Platform began Tuesday, January 10th and the Winter Jazz Festival began on Thursday, January 12th. It's all part of the January Arts Festival - https://www.janartsnyc.org/ which runs through most of this month of January 2023.
At right is a photo of a man at Tompkins Square Park communing with the pigeons. See another photo below showing just how popular he is with the pigeon population in the East Village.
The Winter Show [formerly Winter Antiques Show] has returned to the Park Avenue Amory on the Upper East Side and the show runs through next weekend. Details coming - or see https://www.thewintershow.org/.
Queens Things To Do This Weekend
The Chinese Lunar New Year in celebration of the year of the rabbit begins Sunday, January 22, 2022 and runs through February 9th, 2023. There will be celebrations throughout NYC and we'll update you beginning this weekend and beyond. Details coming.
Flushing Town Hall has an exhibit. Details coming.
Long Island City is hosting some Lunar New Year events. Details coming.
Brooklyn Things To Do This Weekend
NEXT WEEK. On Saturday, January 28th from 11 am to 2 pm, the CPC [Chinese-American Planning Council] will co-host a Lunar New Year Event in Sunset Park Recreation Center at 4200 7th Avenue in the Sunset Park neighborhood of Brooklyn. The event activities include a traditional lion dance, performances, giveaways, interactive games, raffles and contests. For details see - https://www.cpc-nyc.org/events/cpc-bcs-lunar-new-year-celebration-2023-year-rabbit
TWO WEEKS FROM NOW. The CPC celebration [see above entry] continues on Saturday, February 4, with Lunar New Year calligraphy, arts and crafts and trivia for prizes in the Auditorium at New Utrecht High School at 1601 80th Street, in collaboration with community partners from throughout South Brooklyn. For details see https://www.prospectpark.org/
Bronx Things To Do This Weekend
On Saturday January 21, 2023 from 10 am - 1 pm there's a family friend workshop where you can create a fan for lunar new year at Wave Hill at 4900 Independence Avenue in the Riverdale neighborhood of the Bronx. It's Free w/ admission to the grounds. For details see www.wavehill.org or https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/wave-hill/events/2023/01/21/family-art-project-fan-for-lunar-new-year1
The photo at right was taken at the East 96th subway station. I occasionally think back to what our predecessors left behind for us in terms of a robust infrastructure that has by and large held up through the changes for about a century. And then I ask myself, what are we going to leave behind for future generations?
NEXT WEEK. There's a Nai Ni Chen Dance Company performances at Hostos College at 450 Grand Concourse in the Concourse neighborhood of the Bronx on Sunday, January 29th, beginning at 3 pm. Tickets are $12 / $10 / $5 at https://www.hostos.cuny.edu/
Staten Island Things To Do This Weekend
On Sunday, January 22, Snug Harbor is hosting a Chinese Lunar New Year celebration from 12 noon - 3 pm. Details coming.
On Sunday, January 22, beginning at 2 pm / 3 pm there's an exhibit opening and lecture about a collection of stamps that features lighthouses prominently on them at the Lighthouse Museum at 200 The Promenade in the St. George neighborhood of Staten Island.
Have a nice weekend.
Economic Outlook 2023
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.
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 - Mostly CoVid Disruptions of Global Supply Chains and Government Fiscal 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.
And the expansive monetary policy, which was executed by taking the federal funds interest rate to nearly zero in March of 2020, and by pushing $4 trillion cash into the economy via purchases of bonds, wasn't reined in for years, and that withdrawal finally began in 2022. We'll discuss this more further down in this report.
The chart at right first shows how the Federal Reserve immediately dropped the federal funds rate to zero in the Spring of 2020, to keep liquidity in the economy as the pandemic hit. And then it shows how the Federal Reserve very, very aggressively jacked up interest rates to offset inflation beginning in 2022, because they were slow to react to the rise in prices in 2021. Federal Reserve Chairman, Jerome Powell, was nominated first by President Trump and renominated by President Biden.
The chart below right, shows how in the Spring of 2020, the Federal Reserve pushed $4 trillion in liquidity into the economy, doubling its liabilities. In 2022, the Federal Reserve began pulling some of that liquidity out of the market / off the table.
* In 2021 things began to normalize as vaccinations rolled out and we began to gain a better understanding of how to mitigate the health impact of the CoVid pandemic. But the year wasn't a straight line out of the pandemic, as the new variants continued to wreak havoc with our collective assessment of how risky it would be to return to normal.
Toward the end of 2021, Russian-like media Oligarch Rupert Murdoch, used his Goebbels-like propaganda outlets, including the NY Post, Fox News and the Wall St. Journal to hype American's uneasiness with supply chains in the economy, which Murdoch propagandist's labeled as Biden's economy.
* In February 2022 economic risks rise, as fascist dictator Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine in what he called a 'Special Military Operation'. The Russian War in Ukraine hasn't gone well for Putin. To maintain the war, he is crippling the long term prospects for the Russian economy, as the Russian people continue to act like peasants, allowing the brutal dictator and his elitest friends, to walk all over them, including sending them to their graves fighting for Putin's narcissistic place in history.
Putin's military intervention / disruption, of course added risk to the global economy. Especially in two key segments of the economy which includes food and energy. Russia supplies about 12% of the world's oil, and along with Ukraine accounts for about a third of the world's wheat and barley. Hence Putin's war added significant inflationary pressure to both energy and food.
As you can see in the chart at right, the price of oil spiked up following Russia's invasion of the Ukraine in the Winter of 2022. The price of oil has since come back down to a few bucks below where it was a year ago.
* In November and December of 2022, and continuing into January of 2023, dictator President Xi Jin Ping has been retreating from his draconian, control-freak style CoVid lockdown measures. The Chinese, in a rare break from their own peasantry past, started to rebel against the policies, and so Xi started to relent. The Chinese economic growth fell from 8% in 2021 [like us the growth was accentuated because of a depressed 2020 CoVid economy] to 3% in 2022. Thus, at the end of 2023, in contrast to 2022 [which wasn't anywhere near as bad as Murdoch's Fox, NY Post and WSJ hyped it], things are largely returning to normal - except for the Ukraine situation, which continues.
II. Economic Background - Government Responses Included Monetary Policies Layered on Top of Fiscal Policies
To summarize what I laid out above, there were swings in demand fueled by lifestyle changes caused by the pandemic, including generous fiscal spending by the U.S. government. And there were significant supply side swings in capacity, which were driven by worker availability arising from health concerns.
Globally, we've spent the past couple years working through these huge economic demand and supply displacements, due in part to the disruptions of the vaccination roll outs caused by misunderstandings / misinformation about vaccine efficacy, risks and the new CoVid variants. This economic uncertainty was exacerbated by Russian dictator President Putin's undeclared war on Ukraine, which further disrupted the supply of both food and energy - which are two key components of the economy.
So, along with the U.S. governmment's expansive fiscal policies, pursued via massive transfer payments to large and small businesses and individuals, the nation's central bank, the Federal Reserve, pursued an expansive monetary policy by, 1) dropping the Fed Funds rate to nearly zero [0% - .25%] in March of 2020, and 2) they pursued an incredibly expansionary monetary policy whereby they pushed liquidity [cash] into the U.S. financial system by buying a lot of bonds. In the latter move they pushed about $4 trillion into the economy in a very short period of time, doubling their position of prior years.
As you can see in the chart above, inflation picked up toward the end of 2021, peaked in June of 2022, and appears to be heading back down toward normal, which economists expect it will approach by the end of 2023 [3.3% inflation] and in 2024. The Fed benchmark inflation rate is 2.0 - 2.5%.
III. So, Today, Where We At?
What's next is a look at a multitude of economic statistics with some nominal interpretation of what I expect to happen, all things being equal [meaning no further major disruptions], in 2023.
Expansive Fiscal Policies Ending, but Lag Times & the Multiplier Effect
As you can see by the first graphs at the top of this report, the Biden Administration has already brought the federal budget back into alignment with its historical trend, after a couple of years of excessive spending that began during the last year of the Trump Administration and continued into the first year of the Biden Administration.
In economics there's a lag time between when something is done at the federal level in fiscal policy and its full effects work through the economy. It's called the multiplier effect and I oftentimes wonder if Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell missed the classes in school that focused on it. The lag time can range from about six months to two years. I am seeing anecdotal evidence that the spending is drying up in the NYC economy, as Mayor Adams recent budget cuts indicate.
Tale of Two Governments - NYS Governor Hochul has $19 Billion in Unspent CoVid Relief Funding, While NYC Mayor Adams is Making Cuts in NYC
Many businesses and households didn't spend all of the money they saved during the pandemic, so there's still some of that stimulus that will continue working its way through the economy in the coming year or two. For example, while NYC Mayor Adams is cutting expenses, NYS Governor Hochul has about $19 billion, or 44% of the emergency funding allocations left to spend. Perhaps Hochul and Adams ought to talk about NYC getting a bit of NYS help, given half of the state lives here.
So in the case of NYC and NYS you have two different viewpoints - one where money is scarce and the other where it isn't ... yet. I say yet, because the MTA is still operating below prepandemic levels and thus NYS will have to continue making up the short fall, and the NYC cuts to education may need to be offset by an increase in NYS spending on the same.
Demand Side of the Economy - Employment and Businesses & Households Wealth Effect
Businesses and Households balance sheets also improved, in part because of stimulus funds and in part because spending was held back on services, like travel and hospitality, during the pandemic. Spending came roaring back in 2021, as the pandemic began to fade, but in 2022 it has subsided considerably. Most recently, retail sales were down about 1% in December of 2022, so the economy is definitely cooling.
In the top row of the chart at right is Gross Domestic Product [GDP is the total production value of the economy] and Employment, respectively, for 2021, 2022 and estimates for 2023. GDP [top left] softened in the first and second quarters of 2022, but came back in the third quarter, before falling again in the fourth quarter [estimated]. GDP is expected to remain soft in the first part of 2023, before coming back at the end of 2023. Likewise with Employment [top right], which has been softening. The U.S. is expected to lose some jobs in the first couple / three quarters of the year as rising interest rates dampen consumption and business investment.
So far the strong job market, with rising compensation, and up until 2022, a rising stock and housing market, added to Americans' confidence and contributed to robust spending in 2021 [see chart at right].
But as interest rates have risen, job growth has slowed, and layoffs by a number of the nation's largest tech companies [10,000 layoffs expected by Microsoft alone] begin to take root in the Economic Psyche of the American consumer, demand and productivity are expected to fall as noted by the GDP chart above right [top row on the left].
Inflation vs Market Liquidity Risk
Another aspect of the slowing economy is the impact of the Fed policiies in 2022. They rose rates rapidly and they've been taking liquidity out of the market via bond sales - both of which should have begun in 2021. And now they are on the verge of causing a recession because it seems they are not taking into account the multiplier effect and the lag time with which it takes for economic policy to work itself through the nation's $25 trillion economy.
If I were Jerome Powell, I would increase the Fed Funds rate a .25% at the next FOMC [Federal Open Market Committee] meeting at the end of January and signal that I might be done. And the only reason I would raise if .25% is because the market expects that and I wouldn't want to spook them, not because the economy needs further braking.
The Fed was a contributor in part to the inflationary problem we have - although Vladimir Putin and the disruptions caused by the pandemic should be given credit too. And the Fed is on the verge of contributing to a recession, which it might have to correct for too. For my money Powell isn't a steady hand, but if he stops now, he might avoid overplaying his monetary hand like he did when the pandemic first hit.
One last word on interest rates and inflation. Inflation ticked up considerably in the first half of 2022, which is why the numbers should begin muting rather quickly in the first half of 2023 - because the prior year numbers are already inflated. See chart below right for a month by month account of inflation last year.
Supply Side - Oil Supplies Flowing, China Coming Back on Line, Russian Disruptions Contained & Federal Government Investments
China has rolled back its restrictive CoVid policies. This will increase the supply of semiconductors, which should reduce price pressures in categories such as vehicles and electronics, which account for about 3% of the 8% of inflation we experienced in 2022 [light and dark blues of the chart below right].
The Biden Administration passed a bipartisan Semiconductor bill which is expected to bring more high paying jobs in the semiconductor industry back to the U.S. It will also alleviate the shortage in the long term.
Energy costs, as already mentioned, are primarily related to the rise in oil prices last year, due in great part to Russia's war in the Ukraine as previously shown in the chart above. In the chart below, yellow denotes the contribution of energy costs to inflation, representing between 2% - 3% of the 8% inflation of 2022 in the graph below right.
The Biden Administration reached out to Venezuela, which has the world's largest oil reserves, to provide more oil, which is being done with the help of Chevron.
And food, also experienced inflation due not just to the war in the Ukraine, but also climate change weather disruptions of drought and damaging storms. In the chart below right that's denoted in green and represents about 1% of the inflation last year.
The food category may continue to experience inflationary pressures because of climate change. The Biden Administration passed the Infrastructure Bill and the Inflation Reduction Act, both of which contain provisions designed to address the growing threat of climate change. Here I have to take issue with at least one provision [more later as I think some of this bill was ill-conceived by policy makers], and that is the roll out of electric vehicle recharging stations.
Time to Rethink - Why Don't Battery Makers Make Swappable Batteries that Consumers Can Re-Load in Minutes at a Fuel Station Instead of Waiting 20 - 30 Minutes to Re-Charge a Car?
I don't get it. Some of the smartest people on the planet are engineering these new technologies, but for some reason don't seem to be able to see the forest through the trees. The government should mandate that all electic vehicles be required to operate on a standard electric battery signed off on by the industry. The battery should represent an eighth of a tank of gas or equivalent, so that a driver can 'refuel' each time one of those batteries has dropped its load. In this manner drivers don't have to wait to recharge their cars, and the U.S. government doesn't have to install all of this unnecessary infrastructure. Set up the recharging stations near the power plant for greater efficiencies.
Risks - Debt Ceiling Gambit by Kevin McCarthy & The Republicans
Disinfo
Climate Change
Russia / China
Conclusion - It Could be a Good Year if McCarthy, Putin & Powell are Held in Check
Government Spending
Monetary Policy
Currency
Inflation
Interest Rates / Fed / Housing / Automotive
Almost done. This will be completed at a later date.
* Things To Do This Weekend in NYC & Boros
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.
Friday the 13th - Origins of a Superstition
According to Wikipedia, the number 13 has been considered unlucky beginning with a Norse mythological story about how the 13th guest caused the death of a dinner host. They tell us that the connection between unlucky 13 and Friday didn't start until early in the 1800's, specifically citing an 1834 play called 'The Finesse of the Scribbles', wherein one of the characters says that he was born on Friday the 13th and that is the origin of all of his misfortunes. Greek and Spanish cultures cite Tuesday the 13th as the unlucky day.
Friday the 13th occurs at least once every year and there is no proof that it is any different from any other day. So while I'd recommend caution on any day, I wouldn't hesitate to do just about anything you normally do on this day.
The photo at right was taken of the back of City Hall in lower Manhattan. The foliage and ground are pretty brown and green for this time of year.
Martin Luther King Day Weekend - NYC Parks Day of Service
This weekend the City Parks Day Department is hosting a Day of Service. See details for times and locations at www.nycparks.gov.
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
Martin Luther King Holiday Special Events in Manhattan NYC
On Sunday, the Apollo Theater at 253 West 125th Street in Harlem resumes its MLK Day program entitled, Uptown Hall" MLK - Blueprint for Culture. This event is free, but all tickets have been 'sold' as of Saturday morning. But if those ticket holders don't show up / pick up their tickets by 2.30 pm the day of the show, they will be released to the public waiting in line at the theater. See www.apollotheater.org for details.
On Sunday the Abyssinian Baptist Churchon Striver’s Row located at 132 Odell Clark Place between 138th & 139th Streets and Frederick Douglass & Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvds in West Harlem is hosting a King Day Worship Service beginning at 10 am. The featured speaker is Dr. Jelani Cobb who has become the Dean of the Columbia School of Journalism. The West Harlem neighborhood includes places where African Americans like author W.E.B. DuBois and civil rights activist Malcolm X spent some time. For details see - https://abyssinian.org.
On Monday, the eighth graders at Manhattan Country School organize an annual Commemorative MLK Day March beginning at 10 am until about 2 pm. This year the march is entitled 'The Power of Awareness: The March for Justice and Change'. The march route seems to vary with each year, but has generally been on the Upper West and Upper East Sides, stopping at historically signfiicant sites, where students give speeches and ending at the Manhattan Country School at 150 West 85th between Columbus & Amsterdam. This year the march starts at the Harriet Tubman Memorial where West 122nd Street meets Frederick Douglass Blvd and St Nicholas Avenue - makes five stops where 2 - 5 speeches are made by the students - and ends at Manhattan Country School. For details visit www.manhattancountryschool.org.
On Monday, January 16, 2023 there's a Harlem Gospel Choir performance at Sony Hall at 235 West 46th Street in Midtown Manhattan. The doors open at 12 noon and the show begins at 1.30 pm. Tickets run $41 - $59 at https://sonyhall.com.
All weekend there are jazz performances at the Birdland Theater at 315 44th Street in Midtown Manhattan. Tickets are $26 and $36 at https://birdlandjazz.com.
The United Palace at 4140 Broadway at 175th Street in Washington Heights doesn't have anything dedicated to MLK planned this weekend. But they are offering an historical tour on Sunday from 2 to 3.30 pm for $15. They describe the theater as follows: " ... The history of United Palace, Manhattan’s 4th largest theatre and now a landmarked building, began in 1930, when it was then one of five Loew’s “Wonder Theatres” across the boroughs and New Jersey. Designed by noted architect Thomas Lamb (Cort Theatre, the former Ziegfeld Theatre) with interiors overseen by decorative specialist Harold Rambusch (Waldorf Astoria, Radio City Music Hall), it was one of the region’s premier vaudeville and movie houses. Today, the United Palace hosts concerts, movies, and community events and provides spiritual and cultural programming ...". For tickets see https://www.unitedpalace.org.
The Joyce Theatre American Dance Platform begins Tuesday, January 10th and the Winter Jazz Festival begins on Thursday, January 12th. It's all part of the January Arts Festival - https://www.janartsnyc.org/ which runs through most of this month of January 2023.
Martin Luther King Holiday Special Events in Brooklyn NYC
Saturday through Monday January 14 - 16, 2023 from 10 am - 5 pm, the Brooklyn's Children's Museum at 145 Brooklyn Avenue in Crown HeightsHistoric District, is hosting events celebrating the life the Martin Luther King with a day of service, as well as arts and crafts, games and storytelling. For details go to www.brooklynkids.org.
On Sunday, January 15, 2023 from 11 am - 12.30 pm the Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture at 53 Prospect Park West in Park Slope is hosting a program that will discuss MLK's 'I have a Dream' speech. In prior events such as this one they also include musicians. Free. For details see - FB - https://www.facebook.com/EthicalCultureBrooklyn/ or their website at - https://bsec.org/
On Monday, January 16, 2023 from 10.30 am to 3 pm in the Fort Greene neighborhood, the Brooklyn Academy of Music at 30 Lafayette Street in Brooklyn, hosts its 37th Annual Celebration of MLK's life in the Peter J. Sharp Building. There will be musical performances, speeches by renowned scholars and civil rights activists, a film screening and more [culture / free]. For details and an rsvp see www.bam.org.
On Monday, January 16, 2023 in Prospect Park in Brooklyn the Prospect Park Alliance is hosting two MLK Day events. The first runs from 10 am - 1 pm at the Music Pagoda, where folks can help enrich the park by doing some work on it. The second event runs from 12 noon to 4 pm at the Prospect Park Audubon Center [near the Boathouse which is accessible via the southeast side of the park from Ocean Avenue at Lincoln Road] where there will be outdoor nature activities, an animal encounter and a wilderness walk. For details see https://www.prospectpark.org.
This isn't a MLK related event, but on Saturday, January 14, 2023 at City Point Brooklyn at 415 Albee Square West there's a Wine Fest from 1 pm - 4.30 pm. Tickets cost $19 at https://winefestnewyork.com/.
Martin Luther King Holiday Special Events in Queens NYC
On Friday, January 13th, from 5 pm - 9 pm there's a closing reception at the Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning at 161-04 Jamaica Avenue in the Jamaica section of Queens. The exhibit is called The Art of Women and the Sacred Landscape of the Divine Feminine. It's free but you should rsvp at https://www.jcal.org/.
On Friday & Saturday, January 13th & 14th beginning at 7 pm there's a performance by Compass [dance group] about the evolution from patriarchal power at the LaGuardia Performing Arts Center . Tickets are $15 at http://lpac.nyc.
On Sunday beginning at 3 pm, there's a talk by an NYT journalist, musical performance by a top jazz singer as well as other speeches in the LeFrak Concert Hall at the Queens College Kupferberg Center, located at 65-30 Kissena Blvd off Harding Expressway on the Queens College campus. Admission $20 at https://kupferbergcenter.org
On Monday, from 11 am - 1 pm there's a MLK Day event at the Queens Botanical Garden at 43-50 Main Street in Flushing. It's designed for kids and there's a $5 suggested donation.
Martin Luther King Holiday Special Events in the Bronx NYC
On Saturday January 14, 2023 from 10 am - 1 pm there's a workshop entitled Freedom Quilters of Gee's Bend at Wave Hill at 4900 Independence Avenue in the Riverdale neighborhood of the Bronx. It's Free w/ admission to the grounds. For details see www.wavehill.org or call 718.549.3200 x251.
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].
Coming Next Weekend
Next weekend begins the Chinese Lunar New Year in celebration of the year of the rabbit and the Winter Show at the Park Avenue Armory.
Best wishes for a good day of community service and have an enjoyable / productive Martin Luther King Weekend .
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.
By Wednesday morning, January 11th, Montefiore had resumed negotiations with the NYNSA.
This is the first major strike by New York nurses in decades. One of the nurses said during the pandemic healthcare professionals were hailed at Heroes, while today - just a few short years later - they're treated like Zeroes. I will post the video later today and if should Montefiore or Mt Sinai Hospitals decide to provide me with comments, I will post them here later today.
Lastly, please note that none of the people I spoke with are featured in any video or photos of the strike.
Things To Do This Weekend in NYC & Boros
First Full Weekend of the New Year - 2nd Anniversary of the Trump Insurrection, Three Kings Day Parade, Greek, Ukrainian & Russian Orthodox Christmas Weekend, Shabbat Dinner, January Under the Radar Festival Begins, Mulchfest Ending & 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.
White House, Washington, D.C. - Failed Insurrection
President Biden is planning to commemorate the failed Trump Insurrection of January 6th, 2021, with a White House event planned on Friday.
Around NYC - Mulchfest Ends Sunday
NYC Parks Department is hosting Mulchfest at various locations in each borough through Sunday, January 8th. This is an opportunity to recycle your Christmas trees and wreaths. Find a location and time that suits you - https://www.nycgovparks.org/highlights/festivals/mulchfest
Manhattan
On Friday there's a Three Kings Day Parade and celebration from 11 am - 2 pm at the Museo del Barrio at 1230 5th Avenue [at 104th / 105th Street] on the UES. They are also hosting a post holiday sale at their gift shop with 15% off most items. For details see - https://www.elmuseo.org/
January Arts Festival began this week and runs through the end of the month. The Under the Radar Jazz Festival, Chamber Music America and Opera Theatre Now are all on various stages this weekend. For details see https://www.janartsnyc.org/
In the photo at right, taken in Midtown Manhattan last week, you can see the crowds have returned to NYC.
The annual Origami holiday exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History at 200 Central Park West [btwn 77th & 81st] on the Upper West Side runs through January 16th, 2023. This year the exhibit is entitled 'Beautiful Bugs' to highlight the important role of insects in the planet ecosystem.
NEXT WEEK. The Joyce Theatre American Dance Platform begins Tuesday, January 10th and the Winter Jazz Festival begins on Thursday, January 12th. It's all part of the January Arts Festival - https://www.janartsnyc.org/
Brooklyn
On Friday there's the Brooklyn Brownstone Jazz Ensemble Concert Series beginning at 7.30 pm at 107 Macon Street in the Bed Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn. Tickets are $39 at https://brownstonejazz.business.site/
The Lightscape Show at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden continues through January 8th, 2023. Tickets cost $40 for adults / $20 for kids and babies (0-2) are free.
Queens
On Friday from 11 am - 2 pm there's a Job Fair in Queens at BJ's Wholesale Club at 137-05 20th Avenue in the College Point neighborhood of Queens.
NEXT WEEK. There's a closing reception at the Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning at 161-04 Jamaica Avenue in the Jamaica section of Queens, next Friday, January 13th, from 5 pm - 9 pm. The exhibit is called The Art of Women and the Sacred Landscape of the Divine Feminine. It's free but you should rsvp at https://www.jcal.org/.
NEXT WEEK. Friday & Saturay, January 13th & 14th beginning at 7 pm there's a performance by Compass [dance group] about the evolution from patriarchal power at the LaGuardia Performing Arts Center . Tickets are $15 at http://lpac.nyc.
Bronx
The Third Avenue holiday market at 2817 3rd Avenue between 148th and 149th Streets is open for its final day on Friday, January 6th from 11 am - 7 pm.
There's a Shabbat Dinner at the Bronx Jewish Center at 900 Pelham Parkway beginning at 7 pm in the Pelham Parkway neighborhood in the Bronx on Friday.
In the photo at right, taken last week, you see the Orpheum Theater in the East Village, where STOMP, a dance and musical performance show, will end its 29 year long run on Sunday, January 8th. In April of this year, the Phantom of the Opera, the longest running musical on Broadway [35 years], will also close.
The Holiday Train Show [1/6 - 1/16/23 except Monday 1/9/23] & Glow [Saturdays 1/7 and 1/14 only ] exhibits run through the holidays at the New York Botanical Garden at 2900 Southern Blvd in the Bedford Park neighborhood of the Bronx. The train show tickets cost $35 / $31 / $20 and the Glow tickets cost $39 / $24 at https://www.nybg.org/.
The Holiday Lights show at the Bronx Zoo at 2300 Southern Blvd continues through January 8th. Tickets are $40 / $35 / $25 at https://bronxzoo.com.
Staten Island
There's a Winter Lantern Festival at 75 Richmond Terrace [the stadium] on Staten Island. The show runs through January 8th, 2023. Tickets are $18 / $29 at https://www.winterlanternfestival.com.
On Friday and Saturday at the Conference House in Tottenville, there's the Festival of Trees.
I hope your new year is off to a good start. Enjoy your first weekend.
New Years Resolutions 2023: The Road Ahead
A Few Axioms To Keep In Mind Throughout The New Year
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 termperature 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.
Global - NORAD Santa Tracker
Click this link to follow Santa as he and his flying reindeer traverse the globe on Christmas eve and morning to make sure that all the good boys and girls receive gifts from the jolly, centuries-old man. Be sure to leave some milk and cookies for both Santa and the reindeer, and - while I must admit this is totally unconfirmed hearsay - I hear Santa occasionally drinks of the job. So if you leave a nip of something alcoholic to consume along with the milk and cookies, note that it might possibly be ignored, but also may not be unwelcome. Remember, just because that glass of something alcoholic was emptied between the time you went to bed on Christmas Eve and the time you awoke on Christmas morning, doesn't mean it was Santa who emptied it. Some believe that who emptied the glass, is how those rumors about Santa got started. Here is the link to the Norad Tracker:
https://www.noradsanta.org/en/
Manhattan
On Christmas Eve there's an hour of Caroling from 5 - 6 pm at the Christmas tree in Washington Square Park North at 5th Avenue. Free & all are welcome.
There's a Yiddish Festival at the Jewish Museum of Jewish Heritage at Brookfield Place Downtown from December 24 - 29, 2022. Tickets range from $10 - $349 and may be purchased at https://www.yiddishnewyork.com
There are Hanukkah candle lightings nightly outside the Plaza Hotel at the southeast end of Central Park around 5.30 pm except Friday [3.30 pm] and Saturday [6.30 pm].
There's the annual Origami holiday exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History at 200 Central Park West [btwn 77th & 81st] on the Upper West Side.
There's a Kwanzaa event at the Apollo Theater in Harlem.
The United Palace is hosting a Chanukah performance by an Israeli singer on Sunday starting at 8.30 pm in Washington Heights. Tickets $60 - $500.
There's a Midnight Mass on Christmas eve at St Patrick's Cathedral on 5th Avenue at 50th Street in Midtown Manhattan. Tickets required to attend at https://saintpatrickscathedral.org.
Most Manhattan Holiday Markets have either ended or end this weekend, excepting Bryant Park which ends in the new year. The following Manhattan holiday markets end on Christmas eve: Grand Central Station, Columbus Circle, Chelsea and Union Square. Only the Times Square holiday market ends Friday 12/23/22.
The photo below right was taken earlier this month in Midtown Manhattan.
On Christmas eve there's a Holiday Log lighting event between 1 - 2 pm at the Van Cortlandt House Museum at Broadway and West 246th Street in the southwest corner of Van Cortlandt Park.
Bronx Little Italy seafood markets are celebrating the feast of the seven fishes on Christmas eve Saturday in the Belmont neighborhood.
The BHBG Holiday Train Show & Glow exhibits run through the holidays.
The Bronx Zoo light show and related holiday events continue through the holidays.
There are nightly Menorah lightings at the Bell Tower Monument at West 239th Street and Henry Hudson Parkway in the Riverdale neighborhood in the Bronx. The lightings are at 4 pm, except at 3 pm Friday and 6.30 pm on Saturday.
There's a Kwanzaa Market on Friday, December 30 from 4 - 8 pm at St. Helena's Church at 1315 Olmstead Avenue downstairs in the gym in the Parkchester neighborhood of the Bronx. They suggest you wear African attire. Usually the Kwanzaa performance starts at 6 pm. Tickets $10.
The Queens County Farm Holiday Market ends Christmas eve.
There's a 7.30 pm Christmas Eve Mass at Christ Lutheran Church 33-57 58th Street in Woodside.
There's a Kwanzaa theatrical production being performed at the Black Spectrum Theatre on Wednesday and Thursday 12/28 & 12/29 at 11 am and 7 pm respectively. At 177 Baisley Blvd in the Jamaica neighborhood of Queens. $30 at www.blackspectrum.net.
There's a Winter Lantern Festival at 75 Richmond Terrace [the stadium] on Staten Island. The show runs through the holidays. Tickets are $18 / $29 at https://www.winterlanternfestival.com.
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.
II. Resurgence of the Flu, in the Wake of the CoVid Pandemic
Understanding what's happening with the flu this season in NYS, also doesn't seem to be intelligently reported, as the TV news teleprompter readers and their script writers all seem to parrot one another with some alarming statistics. Alarming the public is good for ratings, so I reckon the broadcasters are doing what their bosses want them to do, but like the Boy Who Called Wolf, they're doing a disservice to the public and in the long term eventually a disservice to themselves, as the public is going to ignore them when another real health emergency arises.
Yes, the Flu is on the Rise & Dramatically so, Picking up from Where it Left Off in March 2020
Yes, the flu cases have risen very dramatically this year, especially when compared to the previous flu seasons, including prepandemic. But there's a story behind the numbers, which is that during the pandemic, the flu was overshadowed by CoVid because the flu has been around for about a century and for the most part the healthcare profession knows how to deal with it. As you can see from the chart, the green line - which is 2019 - 2020 flu season - was headed for a blockbuster year before CoVid stepped out onto the world stage, and CoVid has stolen the show up until now.
What happened since CoVid began in earnest in early 2020, is that people started masking up, social distancing and self-isolating. All of these precautions not only mitigate the transmission of CoVid - but also the flu. In part this is why the 2020 - 2021 flu numbers were close to nothing, and the 2021 - 2022 numbers were also very much subdued. Now, as we are in the beginning of the 2022 - 2023 flu season, the flu appears to be picking up where it left off in early 2020, before CoVid hit.
Flu Vaccinations Rates in 2022 vs 2019 Are Higher for Adults, but Lower for Children
I found some threads of inquiry that are worth investigating, which I hope will be pursued by a better resourced news organization soon, or by us eventually.
On the NYC.gov Health website I noticed that the number of Emergency Department visits for Influenza Like Illnesses, which they shorthand to ILL, have risen dramatically from 2021 to 2022, as have admissions - BUT the Emergency Department Admissions vis a vis the visits as a percentage has dropped to about half in 2022, versus what they were in 2021. That said, the overall number of people admitted for flu increased fairly substantially. See charts.
On the CDC [Center for Disease Control] website I found that while flu vaccination rates for adults are generally up when comparing 2022 versus 2019; the flu vaccination rates for children are down significantly in 2022 versus 2019. So it's possible that people's kids that may have mild cases of the flu are transmitting it to the adults, who are then getting sick. See charts below.
Both of these trends should be examined more closely by the NYC Health and CDC agencies, but that said, being aware of them can also help you navigate your way around them.
Conspiracy Theories - Did Government Payments Influence / Favor CoVid vs Flu Reporting?
On April, 27, 2020 USA Today published the results of an investigation into whether hospitals were paid more for CoVid patients on a ventillator than for flu patients on a ventillator. The higher payments for CoVid patients was true, but the study didn't find any 'gaming the system' on the part of hospitals. What's meant by this is that USA Today didn't find any falsification of data by hospitals in order to obtain the higher CoVid payment for the use of their ventillator. As you can see from the chart provided by KFF, which is a non-profit focused on providing healthcare information, about $31 billion in federal government spending was targeted at providing relief to healthcare providers treating patients with CoVid.
III. King CoVid is Back Again but ... CoVid's Reign is Waning
So, this brings us back to CoVid. CoVid has been the Talk of the Town for the past three years, but it's allure is fading.
New Cases / Hospitalizations / Deaths. In NYC we've been seeing about 300 new cases per day and on average there are about 4,000 people in NYC who have contracted and are living with CoVid. Also in NYC, as of today, about 130 patients are in the hospital with CoVid, and about a dozen folks died of it within the past day. About 14% of those tested at NYC clinics and hospitals tested positive for CoVid, but these numbers don't include the at home tests, so I don't know how meaningful a statistic the % testing positive is anymore.
All of this is more or less under control. We've moved from pandemic to endemic. So now let's see how CoVid plays out in the five boroughs of NYC geographically and ethnically. The following are a few stats that stick out to me.
By Age. About 99% of all adult New Yorkers received at least one vaccination dose. About 89% of NYC adults completed the original two shot vaccination program, while 48% have been boosted at least once. Kids under age 18 however do far less well vis a vis vaccinations. About 52% received at least one dose, only 45% actually completed the two shot regimen and only 16% have been boosted at least once.
By Boroughs. If you want to contract CoVid your best bet is eastern Brooklyn or southern Queens. But as you can see from the map, right now Queens looks pretty infected. But please bear in mind that this map can change dramatically - every ten days or so - so what you're seeing here is CoVid in NYC at a fleeting moment in time. See red map chart at the top of this report.
Ethnicity. Murdoch's Fox News / America's Disinformation Network Seems to be Dumbing Down White New Yorkers. Given George Washington, nearly 250 years ago, mandated that his troops be vaccinated, one would think that people today would recognize the value of protecting one's health via vaccinations. On many news programs, and for many measured categories, pundits use Whites as a sort of established national standard, when evaluating the progress being made by people in other demographic groups. Historically Whites have come out on top, because they've been members of the governing class, and the ethnic majority since this nation's founding.
But if a significant percentage of White New Yokers continue to rely on Rupert Murdoch's Fox News, Wall Street Journal and New York Post for their information, they'll soon enough lose their spot as a sort of aspirational ethnic national standard. The example I use to support these allegations today, is that White NYC Adults have the second lowest vaccination rate in the city of all ethnic groups, and White NYC children have the lowest CoVid vaccination rate in the city. Historically - pre-Murdoch - one would expect Whites to have the highest vaccination rates for both adults and children.
Murdoch media outlets have the predominant share of media in NYC, as Murdoch controls the Fox TV network, Fox 5, WNYW Channel 9, the Wall St Journal and the NY Post. Many of these Murdoch's outlets have done their audiences a disservice by not properly informing them vis a vis vaccines and vaccinations, in spite of the CoVid policies the company has implemented for itself [so Mr. Murdoch wants us to listen to his pundits as they say one thing & pay no attention to what Mr. Murdoch & Cos do, which is quite another thing].
Vaccinated People are Dying, but They're Generally Older and / or Infirm, & When Other Things are Equal, the Vaccinated Folks have a Far, Far Better Chance of Survival
Recently More Vaccinated Americans Died from CoVid than Unvaccinated Americans, BUT ... That's not true when you take into account age and other health variables, and whether or not they kept up with the vaccination boosters. In September 2021, 23% of those who died were vaccinated, that number rose to 42% in February 2022, and in August of 2022 it was 58%. BUT you need to know that at this point in the pandemic, most of the people dying of CoVid are over the age of 85 [see chart]. So while they are vaccinated, they are also very old and hence more susceptible to dying than those who are younger.
Vaccines Still Make a HUGE Difference. So the numbers, per a November 23, 2022 Washington Post report tells us, that: 1) unvaccinated Americans 6 months and older died at a rate 6x more those who got the first two doses of the vaccine, 2) unvaccinated Americans over age 5 died at an 8x rate than those who also received a booster, and 3) unvaccinated Americans age 50 and up were 12x times more likely to die than someone fully vaccinated with two boosters. So evaluate your risk and act accordingly. A shot in the arm seems a small price to pay for protection / insurance.
Protect the Elderly - CoVid Mitigation Advice is as Easy of 1-2-3-4-5
1. Stay up to date on your CoVid vaccinations. As time goes on and this abates, perhaps we can back off this regimen and like flu, it will be something we'll vaccinate against as we age.
2. Wash your hands regularly before touching your face - most notably your mouth and nose.
3. Social distance as much as you can, and wear a mask when in an enclosed public space or a crowded outdoor space.
4. Avoid people who are ill / coughing and stay at home if it's you.
5. And test yourself before attending events with family and friends in enclosed spaces if you're uncertain whether or not you have contracted CoVid. And if you caught CoVid, test yourself after about five or six days, to make sure you no longer have it before going back out in public.
Editor's Note. There are a number of advertisements on this site that you can click to find a testing site near you, as well as ads that you can click which will tell you where you can seek CoVid treatment if you need it.
All Other - We Continue to Learn More About CoVid
There's a whole slew of additional data I dug up about some of the other impacts of catching CoVid vis a vis its long term impact on one's health ['long CoVid'] and possible impact on Alzheimers.
We're also learning more about the vaccines and their impact on people. So as not to scare you, about the only thing I have found so far in this regard, is that there may be a slight lengthening of women's menstrual cycles.
We'll be back with more, but probably next year.
Have a nice week.
Things To Do This Weekend in NYC & Boros
This is the Peak Party Holiday Weekend, Holiday Concerts, Holiday Shopping & Menorah Lightings as Hanukkah Begins
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.
Holiday Things To Do in Manhattan - Use Links at end of each Boro to obtain detail
* On Friday, Saturday & Sunday, December 16, 17 & 18, 2022 beginning at 7 pm Fri, 3 pm & 7 pm Sat, and 3 pm on Sun - performance of the show entitled Home for the Holidays. at Harlem School for the Arts at At 645 St. Nicholas Avenue in West Harlem north of the Upper West Side near Inwood and Washington Heights. Tickets $23 for all days except Sunday which is Free.
* On Saturday December 17th the Harlem Night market will be running La Marqueta from 4 to 8 pm. La Marqueta is located at 1590 Park Avenue between 112th and 115th Streets in East Harlem, underneath the Metro North tracks.
* Sunday, December 18, 2022 between 12 noon and 6 pm, Fifth Avenue will be closed to vehicles and open to pedestrians from 48th to 57th Street in Midtown.
* LAST DAY _ On Sundayfrom 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.
* On Sunday, December 18, 2022 from 10 am - 12 noon a Hanukkah celebration at the 92nd Y at 1395 Lexington Avenue between 91st & 92nd Avenues on the Upper East Side. Free. https://www.92ny.org
* On Sunday, December 18, 2022 from 11 am - 3.30 pm the Jewish Museum at 1109 5th Avenue at 92nd Street on the UES of Manhattan is hosting a modern Hanukkah exhibit with an interactive light show. Free w/ museum admission of $18 / $12 or $8.
* On Sunday, December 18, 2022 from 4 to 5.30 pm there's the Riverside Church Candelight Carol Service at Riverside Church at 490 Riverside Drive between 120th and 122nd Streets on the Upper West Side. The musical prelude begins at 3 pm. Then a candle light service with the full cultural theater developed over thousands of years by the Christian church. They describe it as thus, "... combines carillon, organ, harp, and all of the choirs of The Riverside Church and culminates in a ritual sharing of candlelight illuminating the Nave ...". Tickets are $25 / $35 / donation.
* On Sunday, December 18 - 26, 2022 beginning at 5.30 pm nightly except on - Friday at 3.30 pm & Saturday at 8.30 pm there's the Grand Army Plaza Manhattan Menorah Lighting Events Hanukkah 2022. At Grand Army Plaza at 5th Avenue & 59th Street in Midtown Manhattan.
* On Monday, December 19, 2022 beginning at 8 pm Handel's Messiah in the Stern Auditorium on the Perlman Stage at Carnegie Hall at 57th Street and 7th Avenue in Midtown Manhattan. A classic Christmas choral performance at one of NYC's oldest and finest cultural venues. Tickets are $28 plus $9 Processing or $80 plus $9 processing at https://www.carnegiehall.org.
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.
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.
Also it's worth noting the the Winter Solstice Concert at St. John the Divine, which was virtual last year, again doesn't appear to be returning live this year.
Holiday Things To Do in Brooklyn - Use Links at end of each Boro to obtain details
* On Friday & Saturday there will be a performance of classical music by the Brooklyn Chamber Orchestra at St Ann's Holy Trinity Church at 157 Montague Street in Downtown Brooklyn beginning at 7 pm and 11 am respectively. Rsvp $40.
* On Saturday there's a Caribbean holiday market followed by a concert at Medgar Evers College at 1650 Bedford Avenue in Crown Heights Brooklyn. The market opens at 5.30 pm and the concert begins at 7 pm. Tickets are $30 / $25 at https://www.braataproductions.org/.
* On Saturday there's a one day pop up market from 11 am - 6 pm at 203 37th Street in Industry City in the Greenwood Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn.
* On Saturday, beginning at 1 pm there's a trolley tour about history, art and nature being given at the Green - Wood Cemetery. You must rsvp and it costs $30.
* On Saturday from 4 - 5.30 the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music hosts a Principles of Kwanzaa Workshop which is most suited for kids 8 - 14 and their parents. Free. At the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music at 58 7th Avenue in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn NYC.
* On Saturday at 7 pm and on Sunday at 9 am, 12 noon and 3 pm, the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir will perform a number of free holiday concerts.
* On Saturday there's a performance of the Nutcracker ballet beginning at 4 pm at Our Lady of Angels Parish at 337 74th Street in Bay Ridge Brooklyn. $20.
* Sunday, 12/18/22 beginning at 2 pm and 6.30 pm, the Kings Theatre in Flatbush is hosting performances of the Hip Hop Nutcracker.
* On Sunday 12/18/22, there's a menorah lighting at the Grand Army Plaza in Prospect Park, also beginning at 4 pm.
* On Saturday & Sunday, the Fort Greene holiday pop up market will be open from 9 am - 4 pm along DeKalb Street between Washington Park and South Oxford Street near the farmers market and adjacent to Fort Greene Park in Brooklyn.
* On Saturday and Sunday there's a holiday market at the Brooklyn Museum 200 Eastern Parkway in the Prospect Heights from 11 am - 7.30 pm on Saturday and closing at 5.30 pm Sunday.
* On Saturday and Sunday, the Dumbo Improvement District is hosting a holiday flea market from 10 am - 5 pm at the Dumbo Triangle at Pearl Street. The Brooklyn Flea is open weekends at 80 Pearl Street.
* Weekend Market. The FAD [Fashion / Art / Design] markets is open Saturday from 11 am - 6 pm and Sundays from noon - 6 pm closing Sunday 12/18. They have two locations - one at the Invisible Dog Art Center at 51 Bergen Street in Boerum Hill, and at Empire Stores at 55 Water Street in Dumbo.
* Weekend Market. Artists and Fleas hosts their Regeneration holiday market on Saturdays and Sundays at 70 North Street in Williamsburg through the December weekends leading up to Christmas.
* All weekend there's also a holiday pop up market from 11 am - 7 pm on Friday & Saturday and closing at 6 pm on Sunday at 135 Kent Avenue at 6th Street in Williamsburg. The market features 35 vendors selling a variety of goods including fashion, beauty products, homewares, kids items and food. This market stays open next week and closes on Saturday 12/24/22.
* 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.
Holiday Things To Do in Queens - Use Links at end of each Boro to obtain details
* On Sunday at 3.30 pm the LaGuardia Performing Arts Center hosts a performance of the Nutcracker ballet in LIC. Tickets are $21 at https://www.lpac.nyc.
* On Saturday there's a Governor's Victorian Ball at King Manor beginning from 4.30 - 7 pm. Tickets are $22 and include hors d'oeuvres and musical entertainment. They suggest you dress up in a costume of the age. Rsvp at www.kingmanor.org.
* On Saturday, there's a holiday caroling event from 7 - 10 pm at Cassidy's Ale House at 75-02 31st Avenue and 75th Street in Elmhurst / Jackson Heights. Free.
* Sunday, 12/18 from noon to 6 pm the Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden hosts a holiday market in Astoria.
* On Sunday the Oratorio Society of Queens will perform a Christmas / Hanukkah concert beginning at the St. Kevin Roman Catholic Church at 45-21 194th Street in Flushing Queens. Tickets $45 / $30 / $10.
* On Sunday afternoon there's a holiday market in Rufus King Park in tandem with the Jamaica Performing Arts Center across the street.
* All weekend there is a holiday market / sale at the Culture Lab at 5-25 46th Avenue between Vernon Blvd and 5th Street in Long Island City Queens. Details for all markets in Queens can be found using the link below.
* 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. And the Queens County Farm runs a holiday market daily from 10 am - 5 pm.
* Between now and the New Year [except Mondays & Christmas Day], the Secret Theatre at 3802 61st Street in Woodside Queens is performing A Christmas Carol written by Charles Dickens about a rich, lonely, miserly, miserable old man. Admission $30 / $15.
* The photo above right was taken last weekend, as I was on a subway winding its way past the new 5 Pointz building in Long Island City in Queens.
Holiday Things To Do in the Bronx - Use Links at end of each Boro to obtain details
* On Friday, December 16, 2022 from 5.30 - 7.30 pm, Santa will be visiting the Westchester Square Business Improvement District and there will be holiday treats, the Yuletide Singers and tree lighting. At Owen Dolan Park at 2551 Westchester Avenue at Tremont Avenue in the Westchester Square neighborhood of the Bronx.
* On Friday & Saturday, the Bartow Pell Mansion is hosting candelight tours of the mansion from 5 - 7 pm. Also on Thursday and Friday 12/22 & 12/23/22. $12. And on Sunday, December 18, 2022 from 3 - 4.30 pm - Sparkling Holiday Tea. $45.
* On Saturday & Sunday, December 17 & 18, 2022 beginning at 12.30 and 4.30 pm each day there will be performances of the classical ballet, The Nutcracker, by the Westchester Ballet Company in the Lovinger Theater which is at the north end of the campus at Lehman College at 250 Bedford Park Blvd West in Bedford Park in the Bronx. Tickets $31 - $63 https://www.lehmancenter.org/
* On Saturday, December 17, 2022 beginning at 2.30 pm there will be a Bronx Holiday Concert at St. Helenas Roman Catholic Church at 1315 Olmsted Avenue in the Parkchester neighborhood of the Bronx. MASKS ARE REQUIRED. Tickets cost $20 / $15 / $5.
* On Sunday 12/18/22, there's a free classical holiday concert to be performed in the Lehman Concert Hall which is in the middle of the campus. Free.
* On Sunday, December 18, 2022 from 2 - 3 pm there will be a Chanukah concert to celebrate the beginning of Hanukkah at the Bronx Jewish Center at 900 Pelham Parkway in the Pelham Parkway neighborhood of the Bronx NYC.
* On Sunday, December 18, 2022 beginning at 6.30 pm there's a Menorah Lighting & Interfaith Holiday Music event, at Hawkins Park at 281 City Island Avenue [the main drag] on City Island neighborhood in the East Bronx. The lighting event will be followed by a reception at the City Island Art Gallery. This is organized by Temple Beth-El synogogue. All are welcome.
* On Sunday, December 18, 2022 beginning at 4 pm there will be a Bronx Hanukkah menorah lighting including live music, hot latkes, donuts, dreidels, and balloons at the Bell Tower Monument at West 239th Street and Henry Hudson Parkway in the Riverdale neighborhood in the Bronx. This event is organized by Chabad Bronx.
* All Weekend - The Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights and NY Botanical Garden Glow and NY Botanical Garden Holiday Train Show also run all weekend.
Holiday Things To Do on Staten Island - Use Links at end of each Boro to obtain details
* On Friday, 12/16/22, the St. George Theatre is hosting the Staten Island Jazz Festival in St. George beginning at 7.30 pm. Tickets are $35 / VIP $125. https://stgeorgetheatre.com
* On Saturday, December 17, 2022 from 9 to 11 am there's a holiday breakfast with Santa for kids ages 3 - 11, including Santa, a holiday market, candyland and arts & crafts. At Colony Hall in the Sea View Farm Colony at 460 Brielle Avenue in the Manor Heights neighborhood of Staten Island. Organized by the Grace Foundation.
* On Saturday & Sunday, December 17 & 18, 2022 beginning at 5.30 pm Saturday and at 1 pm and 4 pm on Sunday there are performances of the classical ballet, the Nutcracker, by the Staten Island Ballet Dancers in Nicotra's Ballroom in the Hilton Garden Inn at 1100 South Avenue in the Bloomfield neighborhood on Staten Island. Tickets $85 SOLD OUT.
* On Sunday beginning at 5 pm there's a holiday lighting event in Westerleigh Park in the Westerleigh neighborhood of Staten Island.
* On Saturday and Sunday from 5.30 - 7.30 pm Historic Richmond Town is giving Candelight Tours. Tickets are $25 / $23 and kid age five and under are free.
* On Sunday 12/18/22 from 11 am - 3 pm, the Old Bermuda Inn hosts its final weekend of holiday brunches with Santa.
* All Weekend - There's a Winter Wonderland at Snug Harbor from 5 pm - 11.45 pm. The Staten Island Mall is hosting photo sessions with Santa.
Also we're still updating our New Years Eve parties / restaurants suggestions. Click this link to view. It should be mostly completed by Saturday, December 17th.
Enjoy.
Picketing for the One Day Strike at the New York Times didn't Last a Day
How Not to do a Strike?
December 13, 2022 / NYC Business News / Midtown Manhattan / News Analysis & Opinion / Manhattan Buzz.
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).
Components of the Negotiations Between the NYT & News Guild Union
The union, which won't negotiate with management in person, incited the strike to prod management into moving forward with the contract renewal negotiations on a contract that expired in March of 2021. The negotiations included the fate of the pension vis a vis a 401K, medical benefits - specifically fertility insurance coverage, flex time for working in / out of the office, and of course pay.
At present wage increases seem to be the sticking point. According to PBS the Times is offering a 5.5% pay increase upon completion of the contract [providing for pay increases for the prior two years - 2021 & 2022], followed by 3% increases in 2023 and 2024. The union wants 10% to cover the prior two years upon completion of the deal. The 5.5% for the past two years is 2.75% per year, while inflation during the same period was 4.7% in 2021 and an estimated 7.5% for 2022.
The photo at right was taken looking into Wolfgang's Steakhouse, while covering the NYT Strike outside on December 8, 2022.
NYT & U.S. Media Industry Finances & Employment
The union argues that the Times is doing well, having generated over $220 million in profit last year [2021]. According to NY Magazine, the Times is also on track to make a profit of $300 million this year.
But that said, it's worth noting that of late, the media industry has continued shedding employees / jobs. According to CNN, Gannett recently laid off 200 employees, PBS is looking to cut $10 million from its budget, and CNN itself laid off hundreds of staffers. According to Axios there have been about 3,000 layoffs in the media industry in the past year, with 1,100 of those coming from news media, including Netflix and Warner Bros.
Strikers Negligible Impact on NYT Operations
During the one day strike, on Thursday, December 8th, the Times website was published as if nobody was missing. The Times had employees prepare advance work, like they do for the weekend edition, while keeping a skeleton crew on board for breaking news.
Some journalists compared the one day NYT strike this past week, to a prolonged 114 day strike staged in 1962 & 1963, musing how times had changed. In the 1962 - 1963 strike 17,000 union members walked out on the seven NYC dailies. At the end of the strike, four of the seven papers folded. But back then newspapers were [categorized as] manufacturing businesses, because they actually 'produced' the news by converting paper and ink into information that was delivered like milk, to customers' front doors.
NYT Ownership Still Controlled by the Sulzberger Family
It's worth noting that in August an activist investment firm, ValueAct, acquired 7% of the stock of the New York Times. The Times is currently valued at $5.7 billion and today a stake that size would cost about $400 million. The investment firm reportedly plans to push the NYT to more aggressively monetize its assets.
Carlos Slim Helu acquired nearly 7% of the Times stock in 2008. He then proceeded to lend the Times $250 million, which was repaid in 2011, three years ahead of schedule. Helu increased his stake in the Times in 2015 to 17%. In 2017 Helu pared back his holdings, by about a half million shares, out of a total of the 28 million shares he held.
The Sulzberger Family still retains control through a dual class share structure, whereby they control 70% of the board seats with only 20% of the stock. The Sulzberger Family has controlled the New York Times since 1896.
Beware our Changing Times - Know Who Controls the Integrity of the Information you Consume
Lastly, a word of caution. It's worth noting that investment firms and billionaires are rapidly gobbling up what's left of the newspaper world. They also appear to be interested in using the media to push their own narratives onto the public. Rupert Murdoch is an extreme example of someone who appears to use his mass media outlets to manipulate the public, but increasingly he's no longer the exception. The super wealthy - including Elon Musk, Donald Trump and tightly controlled investment firms - have acquired, founded or taken positions in most of the medium to large sized newspaper, broadcast and online outlets. Unfortunately many of them appear to be using the outlets they control to push their own narratives, sometimes regardless of the facts.
So, remember that the world is constantly changing. And while the logos of the media outlets you rely upon may not change, the people behind the scenes who are running them, do.
Have a good one.
Things To Do This Weekend in NYC & Boros
Holidays Tree Lightings, Holiday Caroling, Holiday Community Gatherings & Holiday Markets
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.
Holiday Things To Do in Manhattan - Use Links at end of each Boro to obtain details
Friday and Saturday, beginning at 7 pm, Handel's Messiah at historic Trinity Church near Wall Street in Downtown Manhattan.
Saturday 12.10.22 morning beginning at 10 am at 39th and Broadway marks the start of the Santa Con. Santa Con is a day long bar hopping event with a couple dozen participating bars. Many folks dress up. Tickets are $16 at https://santacon.nyc/.
Also on Saturday, Alicia Keys will be performing at the United Palace in Washington Heights. The tickets are free and already sold out, but it may be a very, very long shot that some folks don't show.
The first three Saturdays in December [12/3, 10 & 17] the Harlem Night market will be running La Marqueta from 4 to 8 pm.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Dances Patrelle returns with the Nutcracker at the Kaye Playhouse on the UES. The performances a delight to the senses. Tickets range from $65 - $75 at https://www.dancespatrelle.org/.
Also all weekend is the Holy Trinity Holiday market on the UES. It's quite unique in the merchandise for sale.
On Sunday the Tompkins Square tree lighting begins at 4 pm in the East Village. 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 in Midtown. 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.
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.
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.
Holiday Things To Do in Brooklyn - Use Links at end of each Boro to obtain details
The Fort Hamilton holiday celebration and market is Friday, December 9th. So if you're planning to go you need to register to gain access to the army base.
On Saturday from 10 am - 4 pm at the Old Stone House in Park Slope there's a holiday market.
On Saturday 12/11/ 22, the Kings Theatre in Flatbush is hosting performances of the Nutcracker beginning at 2 pm and 7 pm. They are hosting the Hip Hop Nutcracker on Sunday, 12/18/22 beginning at 2 pm and 6.30 pm.
On Saturdays and Sundays the first three weekends in December, the Dumbo Improvement District is hosting a holiday flea market from 10 am - 5 pm at the Dumbo Triangle at Pearl Street. The Brooklyn Flea is open weekends at 80 Pearl Street.
On Sunday, the Greenpointers Holiday Market runs from 6.30 - 8.30 pm at the Greenpoint Loft. Also on both Saturdays and Sundays in December before Christmas is the Fort Greene holiday market from 10 am - 4 pm. It's located next to the Farmers market you can use search on this site to find it.
On Sunday there's a pop up record sale in Gowanus Gardens in Brooklyn.
Weekend Markets. The FAD [Fashion / Art / Design] markets also open Saturdays (11 am - 6) and Sundays (noon - 6 pm) closing the weekend before [12/18] the Christmas weekend. Artists and Fleas hosts their Regeneration holiday market on Saturdays and Sundays in Williamsburg through the December weekends leading up to Christmas.
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.
Next Wednesday 12/14/22 from 4 - 6 pm there's a tree lighting at the Grand Army Plaza in Prospect Park. The Menorah Lighting at the same location is on the following Sunday 12/18/22, also beginning at 4 pm.
Holiday Things To Do in Queens - Use Links at end of each Boro to obtain details
On Friday from 7 - 9 pm there's the St. Nicholas Illumination done by Sunnyside Reformed and Queen of Angels churches beginning from 48th Street and Skillman Avenue in Sunnyside.
On Friday and Saturday 12/9 & 12/10 the premiere of a new play about the pandemic at the LaGuardia Performing Arts Center opens for two nights only in LIC. Tickets are $20 at https://www.lpac.nyc.
On Saturday, from 11.30 am - 3.30 pm in Astoria, along Steinway Street between 31st and 38th Streets, Mr. & Mrs. Santa Claus will be giving out gifts while supplies last and there will holiday entertainment and displays.
On Saturday, in St. Albans, from 12 noon to 6 pm there's a Winter Festival at the Black Spectrum Theatre.
On Saturday there's a wreath making workshop from 1 - 4 pm at the Queens Botanical Garden. Tickets are $35 / $30 & include materials.
Also on Saturday there's a murder mystery dinner at King Manor beginning at 5.30 pm. Tickets are $71 at www.kingmanor.org and include hors d'oeuvres and drinks.
On Saturday, from 11.30 am - 3.30 pm, Flushing Town Hall is hosting a fundraiser holiday party. Tickets are $100 / $150.
Also on Saturday there's a Caribbean holiday market followed by a concert at the Merrick Academy Charter School at 136-25 218th Street in Springfield Queens. The market opens at 5.30 pm and the concert begins at 7 pm. Tickets are $30 / $25 at https://www.braataproductions.org/.
On Sunday the Holiday Historic House Tours return to Flushing from 1 - 5 pm. It's an opportunity to see eight historic houses dating from colonial times to the 1950's [Louis Armstrong's House] for one low fee. A bus runs between the houses that you can use for free of $15 / $20.
On Sunday from noon to 7 pm the historic Grace Episcopal Church will host a Christmas Church Bazaar. Free admittance.
Santa is visiting the NY Irish Center at 1040 Jackson Avenue in LIC on Sunday, from 2 to 4 pm. Tickets are $7 at https://www.newyorkirishcenter.org. On Tuesday, 12/13 from 7 - 10 pm they are hosting a showcase of performances and a holiday celebration. Tickets $15.
This Sunday from noon to 5 pm, Katch Astoria will also be hosting a Queens Craft Brigade holiday market.
Sundays, 12/11 & 12/18 from noon to 6 pm the Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden hosts a holiday market in Astoria.
Also on Sunday the Queens Symphony Orchestra is performing its holiday concert at the LeFrak Concert Hall from 3 - 5 pm. Tickets are $40 - $95, but they sold out.
All weekend there are a couple of holiday markets / sales - one at Culture Lab and the other at Brickhouse Ceramics in Long Island City. Details for both and all other markets in Queens can be found using the link below.
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. And the Queens County Farm runs a holiday market daily from 10 am - 5 pm.
Next Tuesday beginning at 5 pm there's a holiday celebration at the LIC Bar organized by the Chocolate Factory and the LIC the Long Island City Partnership. There's also a performance at the NY Irish Center [see details above]. Next Wednesday, 12/14/22 beginning at 7.30 pm the Jackson Heights Orchestra lights up their holiday concert at St. Mark's Church. On Thursday, 12/15/22, in Jackson Heights at the Langston Hughes Library & Cultural Center there will be an Upcycled Gifts event from 6 - 7.30 pm.
The photo at right was taken last weekend at the Queen of Angels Crafts and Arts Fair featuring and organized by Sunnyside Artists.
Holiday Things To Do in the Bronx - Use Links at end of each Boro to obtain details
Friday the Fordham BID hosts its holiday celebration in Bryan Park in the Fordham neighborhood.
On Friday & Saturday 12/9 & 12/10, the Bartow Pell Mansion is hosting candelight tours of the mansion from 5 - 7 pm.
POSSIBLY AN ERROR ON THEIR WEBSITE OR CANCELLED _ On Saturday the Bronx Museum was hosting a Family day from 1 - 4 pm, but it's been taken off the calendar so it may have been cancelled.
On Sunday, the Church of the Mediator at 260 West 231st Street in Kingsbridge is hosting a holiday concert featuring the Christmas classics beginning at 3 pm, to be followed by a reception. Tickets are $25 / $10.
Also on Sunday there's a Caribbean holiday market followed by a concert at the Harry S. Truman High School at 750 Baychester Avenue in Coop City in the Bronx. The market opens at 4.30 pm and the concert begins at 6.30 pm. Tickets are $30 / $25 at https://www.braataproductions.org/.
On Sunday at Wave Hill Garden and Cultural Center there's a holiday concert from 2 - 3 pm featuring Lara Downes in Riverdale. Tickets are $30 / $16 / $14 at https://www.wavehill.org.
All Weekend - The Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights and NY Botanical Garden Glow and NY Botanical Garden Holiday Train Show also run all weekend.
Holiday Things To Do on Staten Island - Use Links at end of each Boro to obtain details
On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the St. George Theatre is hosting its 19th Annual Christmas Show which features about 100 Staten Island performers. Tickets are $10 / $20 / $30 / $40 & $50. Funds raised go to help the theater.
On Saturday morning Empire Outlets is doing a Breakfast with Santa from 10 - 11 am in St. George.
On Saturday there's a holiday market organized by Maker Radio in Stapleton from 11 am - 4 pm.
On Saturday there's a holiday event at the Alice Austen House in Shore Acres from 12 noon - 3 pm. The event allows visitors to have their photo taken and aura read for $20 / $30.
On Saturday from 3 - 6 pm there's a holiday tree lighting / Santa Visit event in Tappan Park in Stapleton.
On Saturday, the William H. Pouch Scout Camp tree lighting event begins at 6 pm. Admission is $5.
On Saturday and Sunday from 5.30 - 7.30 pm Historic Richmond Town is giving Candelight Tours. Tickets are $25 / $23 and kid age five and under are free. Prior to the tours on both days, Historic Richmond Town is hosting a crafts making event at many of the local shops, whereby you can watch how things were made a century and a half ago, and then buy them. Tickets are $12 / $10. On Saturday Only at 5 pm there's a tree lighting ceremony at 5 pm.
On Sunday from 11 am - 3 pm, the Old Bermuda Inn continues its holiday brunches with Santa.
All Weekend - There's a Winter Wonderland at Snug Harbor from 5 pm - 11.45 pm. The Staten Island Mall is hosting photo sessions with Santa.
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
November 24, 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.
Holiday Things To Do in Manhattan
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.
The Bryant Park, Verdi Square and Tavern on the Green tree lightings are next Tuesday. The Rockefeller Center tree lighting event is next Wednesday. The Central Park tree lighting at the Dana Discovery Center and the West Harlem Piers Park tree lighting are both next Thursday.
All Weekend - Holiday lights in Dyker Heights. Lightscape Show at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden. Dumbo Holiday Flea Market begins. And on Saturday there's a tree lighting in Park Slope at the Old Stone House. Also note that a number of events are scheduled for Fridays, so you might want to use the links below to view our running schedule of Brooklyn holiday events which we will update / add to weekly.
All Weekend - Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights and NY Botanical Garden Glow and NY Botanical Garden Holiday Train Show. On Saturday there's a Christmas tree lighting in City Island beginning at 7 pm. For further details on these holiday events or to see what holiday markets are happening in the Bronx click this link Bronx Holiday Markets & Bronx Holiday Events NYC. A bigger number of holiday events begin next weekend and it's also worth noting that Hanukkah is 12/18 - 12/26/22 so Menorah Lighting Events will start later this year. Stay tuned.
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.
Manhattan
Holiday shops at Bryant Park and Grand Central Station open. Ice rinks at Bryant Park and Rockefeller Center are open. The Rockefeller Christmas tree is up, but not lit.
Shortly after this photo was taken late last week - the rains came, the tree leaves fell, and the trees are now generally bereft of any foliage.
Use the Manhattan Holiday Market link below to obtain further details of numerous holiday markets / holiday fairs / holiday events coming to Manhattan between now and the new year including the ones noted above.
Queens
In the photo top right is an entrepreneur who is managing a popup market just outside the Alcove at 49th Street and Skillman Avenue in Sunnyside Queens. They're open this Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to about 8.30 / 9 pm each day.
The Amaze Lights Festival began November 11th at CitiField in Flushing and runs through January 8th, 2023.
The Winter Lantern Festival began at the Queens County Farm at 7350 Little Neck Parkway.
Use the Queens Holiday Market link below to obtain further details of numerous holiday markets / holiday fairs / holiday events coming to Queens between now and the new year including the ones noted above.
Brooklyn
There's a holiday lighting ceremony on Friday, November 18th from 5 - 6 pm in Albee Square at Fulton and DeKalb Streets in Downtown Brooklyn.
Holiday markets have begun in Williamsburg and at Fort Greene Park.
Use the Brooklyn Holiday Market link below to obtain further details of numerous holiday markets / holiday fairs / holiday events coming to Brooklyn between now and the new year including the ones noted above.
Bronx
Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights and NY Botanical Garden Glow and Holiday Train.
The photo at right shows some of the artisanal crafts, accessories and objets de art for sale at the TRADiction popup market in front of the Alcove restaurant in Sunnyside Queens.
Use the Bronx Holiday Market link below to obtain further details of numerous holiday markets / holiday fairs / holiday events coming to the Bronx between now and the new year including the ones noted above.
Staten Island
On Saturday, November 19, 2022 from 10 am - 4 pm there's the Great Kills Moravian Church Annual Holiday Sale in the parking lot of the Great Kills Moravian Church at 62 Hillside Terrace in Great Kills neighborhood on Staten Island. The holiday sale features handmade gifts & decorations, baked goods, a Christmas cafe, and a mitten tree. Find gifts, stocking stuffers, and decorations. Donations of hats, mittens and gloves will be donated to those in need.
Use the Staten Island Holiday Market link below to obtain further details of almost a half dozen holiday markets / holiday fairs this weekend on Staten Island including the one noted above.
I have a bit more to do on Manhattan as of Saturday evening around 9.30 pm. It should be done tonight.
Have a nice pre-Thanksgiving Day weekend.
Staten Island Holiday Markets and Christmas & Hanukkah Shopping
*** 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
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.
THIS IS A WORK IN PROGRESS, WHiCH WILL BE COMPLETED LATER TONIGHT.
Announcement - We're Now on a New Content Management System
It's good news. We had been running on the same platform since 2007 and it was time to upgrade : )
We'll have more to say about this later today, and in the coming weeks.
Things To Do This Weekend in Manhattan NYC
The Veterans Day Parade is today in Midtown from 12.30 pm to 3.30 pm. They march along 5th Avenue from 26th to 45th Street.
Things To Do This Weekend in Queens NYC
Saturdays & Sundays, November 12, 13, 19, 20, 2022 beginning at 7.30 pm on Saturdays and at 2.30 pm on Sundays. The Merry Wives of Windsor by the Gingerbread Players at St. Luke's Church at 85 Greenway in Forest Hills. Tickets are $15 / $12. For details see https://www.gingerbreadplayers.org/
Things To Do This Weekend in the Bronx NYC
Checking.
Things To Do This Weekend on Staten Island NYC
Thursday, November 10, 2022 from 10.30 - 11.30 am - There's a day time Veterans Day Remembrance event held at Wagner College at 1 Campus Road in Grymes Hill. The event is described as follows: "... Alumni and friends are invited to join together on campus as we honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country with the 12th annual Wagner College Veteran's Day Remembrance, hosted by the brothers of Delta Nu and the Wagner College Alumni Association ... The Delta Nu War Memorial located outside the Spiro Sports Center reminds us of the great sacrifice our veterans have made for this country and the global community. Light refreshments will be served in the Spiro Sports Center Ticket Lobby following the memorial..."
Friday, November 11, 2022 beginning at 9.11 am - Veterans' Day Golf Classic returns. The event begins with breakfast at 9.11 am, followed by a scramble / tee off that begins at 10.30 am at three Staten Island golf courses including Silver Lake, La Tourette and Richmond County. The golfing is followed by dinner at Nicotra's Ballroom at the Hilton Garden Inn. Fees are $225 for everything, or $85 for dinner & cocktails, or $100 for golfing only. Organized by the Tunnel to Towers org at https://t2t.org.
Things To Do Next Weekend in Brooklyn NYC
Saturday, November 12, 2022 - Renegade Craft Fair. Details coming later today, Friday 11/11/22.
The NYS primary 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.
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, as the Ukrainians appear to be doing now. So be brave, and be careful in choosing who you vote to represent you. There's still time to do some researchs on candidates on the web.
Early Voting Ended Sunday, November 6, 2022
Early voting began on Saturday, October 29 and runs through Sunday,November 6th, 2022. Today is election day, when you can find your poll site by clicking on the graphic above. For those who wish to find an early voting poll site use this link, which not only shows the sites, but also the wait times.
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.
Things To Do This Weekend in All 5 Boros of NYC
* Sunday, November 6, 2022 at 2 am - Daylight Savings Time. This may be the last year where we will 'fall back' by moving our clocks back one hour starting at 2 am Sunday or before going to bed Saturday night.
* Sunday, November 6, 2022 from 8 am - 5 pm - The NYC Marathon runners begin congregating at Fort Wadsworth at the foot of the Verrazzano Narrows Bridge on Staten Island beginning at 7 am. The Professional Wheelchairs take off at 8 am, the Handcyclists at 8.22 am, the Professional Women at 8.40 am, and the Professional Men at 9.05 am, with the last wave at 11.40 am. Staten Island is the starting poinit, while Brooklyn is the first leg, the Queens segment of the course is around the midpoint before heading into Manhattan, then north to the Bronx over the Willis Avenue Bridge, where they do a U turn by heading west over the Madison Avenue Bridge before turning south into Manhattan and Central Park. Use the link to the front page below to view a map of the Marathon course for 2022.
So you can do some math to figure out when to greet them in your borough. The fastest men complete the race in a bit more than two hours, while the average is 4.40 [hours.minutes]. The midpoint is in Queens. The biggest wave of runners travel through Queens around 11 am, so you can figure out the rest. The weather is expected to be pleasant. Enjoy.
Things To Do This Weekend in Manhattan NYC
Wednesday thru Sunday, November 2 - 6, 2022 at various times - The Baltic Film Festival. At Scandinavia House at 58 Park Avenue in Midtown just south of Grand Central Station. Tickets are $125 to see all films. For details see - https://www.scandinaviahouse.org.
Thursday - Sunday, November 3 - 6, 2022 - Washington Heights Jazz Festival. For details see https://jazzwahi.com.
Friday, November 4, 2022 from 5.30 - 9 pm - The Parade of Nations in Central Park will be followed by fireworks tonight as part of the NYC Marathon Festivities. This will be free and viewable from the finish line in Central Park which is located in the southwest corner of the park.
Things To Do This Weekend in Queens NYC
Tuesday - Sunday, November 1 - 6, 2022 at various times - Queens World Film Festival. At multiple locations including The Local at 13-02 44th Avenue in LIC, the Museum of the Moving Image at 36-01 35th Avenue in Astoria, and opening night was at Queens Theatre in Flushing Meadows Corona Park just south of the Unisphere. Tickets are $15 - $17.50 at https://queensworldfilmfestival.org.
COMING NEXT WEEK _ Saturdays & Sundays, November 12, 13, 19, 20, 2022 beginning at 7.30 pm on Saturdays and at 2.30 pm on Sundays. The Merry Wives of Windsor by the Gingerbread Players at St. Luke's Church at 85 Greenway in Forest Hills. Tickets are $15 / $12. For details see https://www.gingerbreadplayers.org/
Things To Do This Weekend in the Bronx
Sunday, November 6, 2022 from 12 noon - 1 pm - Veterans Day Memorial Event.A procession and flag raising ceremony with remarks. Color guard units from SUNY Maritime College will participate. Organized by the Van Cortlandt Park Alliance and Community Board 8 in collaboration with the NYC Parks Department. It's to be held in Memorial Grove which is just north of the southwest corner of the park. For details see - https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/VanCortlandtPark/events/2022/11/06/veterans-day-ceremony
Things To Do This Weekend on Staten Island NYC
Thursday, November 10, 2022 from 10.30 - 11.30 am - There's a day time Veterans Day Remembrance event held at Wagner College at 1 Campus Road in Grymes Hill. The event is described as follows: "... Alumni and friends are invited to join together on campus as we honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country with the 12th annual Wagner College Veteran's Day Remembrance, hosted by the brothers of Delta Nu and the Wagner College Alumni Association ... The Delta Nu War Memorial located outside the Spiro Sports Center reminds us of the great sacrifice our veterans have made for this country and the global community. Light refreshments will be served in the Spiro Sports Center Ticket Lobby following the memorial..."
Friday, November 11, 2022 beginning at 9.11 am - Veterans' Day Golf Classic returns. The event begins with breakfast at 9.11 am, followed by a scramble / tee off that begins at 10.30 am at three Staten Island golf courses including Silver Lake, La Tourette and Richmond County. The golfing is followed by dinner at Nicotra's Ballroom at the Hilton Garden Inn. Fees are $225 for everything, or $85 for dinner & cocktails, or $100 for golfing only. Organized by the Tunnel to Towers org at https://t2t.org.
Things To Do Next Weekend in Brooklyn NYC
COMING NEXT WEEK. Saturday, November 12, 2022 - Renegade Craft Fair. Details coming next Friday 11/11/22.
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.
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.
This is a report containing things to do in the Bronx over the Memorial Day Weekend.
This was first published when Memorial Day Weekend was a few weeks away. But given New Yorkers' interest in resuming some level of normalcy post pandemic, I thought you might want more time to figure out how you're going to spend the weekend.
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 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.
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.
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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
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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
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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
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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?
March 17, 2023 / 
Friday, March 17th, beginning at 11 am, the NYC St Patrick's Day Parade in Manhattan begins on 5th Avenue at 44th Street and marches up to 79th Street. There are generally about 150,000 participants and about two million spectators. Click these links for Irish pub suggestions for each borough. For further details see - https://www.nycstpatricksparade.org/
Next Friday, March 17th at the NY Irish Center at 1040 Jackson near Vernon Blvd in Long Island City there's a St Patricks Day Celebration entitled '40 Shades of Green', from 3 - 9 pm. For $30 tickets and details see - https://www.newyorkirishcenter.org.
On Friday at 7.30 pm, Saturday at 1.30 and 7.30, and Sunday at 3 pm there are performances of Black female author Lorraine Hansberry's epic drama entitled The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window in the Harvey Theatre at the Brooklyn Academy of Music at 651 Fulton Street in Brooklyn. They describe the play as follows, " ... Hansberry invites us into Greenwich Village in the 60s, crafting a razor-sharp portrait of a diverse group of friends whose progressive dreams can’t quite match reality. At the center are Sidney and Iris Brustein, fighting to see if their marriage—with all its crackling wit, passion, and petty cruelty—can survive Sidney’s ideals...". The play runs daily, except Mondays, through March 24th. For $35 & up tickets and details see - https://www.bam.org. Performances end March 24, 2023.
March is Music Month at the Pregones PRTT Theater at 575 Walton Avenue in the Bronx. On Saturday beginning at 7 pm Manuel Valera and his band, which they desribe as, "... New Cuban Express, creates a unique and distinctive style that mixes elements of Jazz, R&B, fusion, funk, and Cuban music... ". And on Sunday, beginning at 3 pm, Chantal Balestri whose performance is described as follows, " ... 
On Friday night, from 7 pm - 12 midnight, The Pride Center at 59 Wright Street on Staten Island is hosting the Spring Bling [kiki] Ball. There will be music and dancing. No admission was noted, but for more info and details see - https://twitter.com/pridecenterSI. They also have a website but this and the following event aren't posted there. https://www.pridecentersi.org
In 2017 I attended a Community Board meeting in Astoria where our urban planners talked about 
One of the biggest obstacles to erecting a rail connection into / out of LaGuardia is the disruption it would cause to existing commutes. Another major factor, particularly for those alternatives which provided the most direct connections into / out of Manhattan, was that a rail connection would have to tunnel below the end of LGA Runway 4-22 that stretches from the southwest section of the airport to the northeast section of the airport which ends in the East River. The reason such a tunnel is required, is because of FAA regulations surrounding construction limitations around an FAA airstrip. I picked up this information in a March 13, 2023 Engineering News Record report as well as in the FAA report noted below.
I took a look at a map of the Astoria neighborhood which lies between Manhattan and LaGuardia. It's an area with which I'm pretty familiar. A few of the air train alternatives included connecting the Astoria Blvd and the Ditmars Blvd N / W train MTA subway stops, as the jumping off point for a rail connection to LaGuardia Airport. This makes the most sense, as both the N and W subway lines are nowhere near capacity use, like the #7 train, so there's likely enough slack to handle a significant boost in ridership, if those lines were to be used to enable a public transit rail connection to LaGuardia Airport.
In 2022 there were 29 million passengers [79,000 per day] who traveled through LaGuardia. And from what I could gather from some of the Air Train Analysis reports by the Port Authority PANYNJ, it appears that an estimated 10% of passengers [3 million or 8,200 riders per day] currently use public transit.
Given the FAA restrictions on construction projects near airport runways as pointed out to us by Engineering News Record report of 3/13/23 referenced above, I suggest the PANYNJ build a connecting light rail from the N/ W lines in Astoria to the edge of the airport, ending in the southwest corner of the airport, at the end of the 4-22 runway at 19th Avenue and 81st Street [see map above right]. For the residents of this area, the advantage of this rail link would be better public transit, which in turn would likely raise property values, and make for a very easy any commute into the airport for workers.
So here's the American ingenuity piece. Set up the N / W trains that go to LaGuardia to have a few rail cars that can be unfastened from the end of that subway train, and can then be driven around the airport stopping at each of the terminals, before returning to the line and being refastened onto the next outgoing subway train. Or, in a manner similar to what they do with container shipping, have some cars that can be rolled off the subway train line and then pulled around the airport terminals on a conveyor, before circling back to be refastened to the next outgoing subway train.
What I visualize are subway cars at the end of the train, which can be disconnected and go vehicular around the airport. Or better yet, subway cars that can be motored a few blocks to a separate automated rail or street car-like system that takes the disconnected subway cars around the airport to all of the terminals, before returning to the starting point where they would be shuttled back to be reconnected to the next city bound MTA subway train.
I recognize that this option isn't currently offered by Kawasaki, Bombardier or Siemens, who represent about two thirds of the subway car industry. But this isn't rocket science, and there is plenty of pre-existing technology, like parts etc. to make this happen in about as much time [2 - 3 years] as it would take to complete the elevated rail line from either the Ditmars Blvd or Astoria Blvd subway station. NYS has a large Kawasaki subway car plant in Yonkers that might be up to the job.
Fresh, Fly and Fabulous is on exhibit at the Fashion Institute of Management at 227 West 27th Street in Chelsea from February 8th to April 23rd. The exhibit is dedicated to Hip Hop not just as music and fashion, but as a lifestyle and cultural statement. Hip Hop celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Wednesday - Friday from noon to 8 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 10 am - 5 pm. There's an all day symposium on Friday, February 24th. For details see - https://www.fitnyc.edu/
March 3, 2023 / 
Fresh, Fly and Fabulous is on exhibit at the Fashion Institute of Management at 227 West 27th Street in Chelsea from February 8th to April 23rd. The exhibit is dedicated to Hip Hop not just as music and fashion, but as a lifestyle and cultural statement. Hip Hop celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Wednesday - Friday from noon to 8 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 10 am - 5 pm. There's an all day symposium on Friday, February 24th. For details see - https://www.fitnyc.edu/
On Friday beginning at 6.30 pm Brooklyn Poets at 144 Montague Street in Brooklyn Heights is hosting a number of open mic readings. If you want to speak you have to rsvp a spot in advance. Featured speakers include Morgan Boyle and Joshua Garcia. For details and $7 tickets see - https://brooklynpoets.org/
February 28, 2023 / 
Sunday, March 5, 2023. The St. Pat's for All Parade in Sunnyside begins with speeches and music at 12 noon, and then kicks off from Skillman Avenue and 43rd Street in Sunnyside, Queens ending 15 blocks further east at 58th Street in Woodside. The St Pats for All Parade was founded in 2000 in response to the Manhattan St Pats Parade boycott of LGBTQ folks marching as openly gay. The Manhattan St Pats Parade has since dropped that policy and permits openly gay members of the community to march in the parade.
February 24, 2023 / 
February 17, 2023 / 
Jamaica JAMS. Jamaica JAMS is one of the largest events in Queens generally the first weekend of August. The event spans a couple of days and includes a concert on Friday evening in King Park, followed by a food and shopping festival the next day. The 
February 11, 2023 / 
February 7, 2023 / 
February 3, 2023 / 
January 27, 2023 / 
January 20, 2023 / 
On Sunday from 11 am - 3.30 pm there's a Chinese Lunar New Year Firecracker celebration in Sara Roosevelt Park at Chrystie and Forsyth on the Lower East Side in East Chinatown.
The Chinese Lunar New Year in celebration of the year of the rabbit begins Sunday, January 22, 2022 and runs through February 9th, 2023. There will be celebrations throughout NYC and we'll update you beginning this weekend and beyond. Details coming.
On Saturday January 21, 2023 from 10 am - 1 pm there's a family friend workshop where you can create a fan for lunar new year at Wave Hill at 4900 Independence Avenue in the Riverdale neighborhood of the Bronx. It's Free w/ admission to the grounds. For details see www.wavehill.org or https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/wave-hill/events/2023/01/21/family-art-project-fan-for-lunar-new-year1
* 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.
And the expansive monetary policy, which was executed by taking the federal funds interest rate to nearly zero in March of 2020, and by pushing $4 trillion cash into the economy via purchases of bonds, wasn't reined in for years, and that withdrawal finally began in 2022. We'll discuss this more further down in this report.
* In 2021 things began to normalize as vaccinations rolled out and we began to gain a better understanding of how to mitigate the health impact of the CoVid pandemic. But the year wasn't a straight line out of the pandemic, as the new variants continued to wreak havoc with our collective assessment of how risky it would be to return to normal.
Putin's military intervention / disruption, of course added risk to the global economy. Especially in two key segments of the economy which includes food and energy. Russia supplies about 12% of the world's oil, and along with Ukraine accounts for about a third of the world's wheat and barley. Hence Putin's war added significant inflationary pressure to both energy and food.
To summarize what I laid out above, there were swings in demand fueled by lifestyle changes caused by the pandemic, including generous fiscal spending by the U.S. government. And there were significant supply side swings in capacity, which were driven by worker availability arising from health concerns.
What's next is a look at a multitude of economic statistics with some nominal interpretation of what I expect to happen, all things being equal [meaning no further major disruptions], in 2023.
Businesses and Households balance sheets also improved, in part because of stimulus funds and in part because spending was held back on services, like travel and hospitality, during the pandemic. Spending came roaring back in 2021, as the pandemic began to fade, but in 2022 it has subsided considerably. Most recently, retail sales were down about 1% in December of 2022, so the economy is definitely cooling.
So far the strong job market, with rising compensation, and up until 2022, a rising stock and housing market, added to Americans' confidence and contributed to robust spending in 2021 [see chart at right].
If I were Jerome Powell, I would increase the Fed Funds rate a .25% at the next FOMC [Federal Open Market Committee] meeting at the end of January and signal that I might be done. And the only reason I would raise if .25% is because the market expects that and I wouldn't want to spook them, not because the economy needs further braking.
China has rolled back its restrictive CoVid policies. This will increase the supply of semiconductors, which should reduce price pressures in categories such as vehicles and electronics, which account for about 3% of the 8% of inflation we experienced in 2022 [light and dark blues of the chart below right].
And food, also experienced inflation due not just to the war in the Ukraine, but also climate change weather disruptions of drought and damaging storms. In the chart below right that's denoted in green and represents about 1% of the inflation last year.
Disinfo
January 13, 2023 / 
This weekend the City Parks Day Department is hosting a Day of Service. See details for times and locations at www.nycparks.gov.
January 5, 2023 / 
January 5, 2023 / 
On Friday there's a Three Kings Day Parade and celebration from 11 am - 2 pm at the Museo del Barrio at 1230 5th Avenue [at 104th / 105th Street] on the UES. They are also hosting a post holiday sale at their gift shop with 15% off most items. For details see - https://www.elmuseo.org/
The Third Avenue holiday market at 2817 3rd Avenue between 148th and 149th Streets is open for its final day on Friday, January 6th from 11 am - 7 pm.
January 1, 2023 / 
December 23, 2022 / 
The Lightscape Show at the Brooklyn Museum continues through the holidays.
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.
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.
Understanding what's happening with the flu this season in NYS, also doesn't seem to be intelligently reported, as the TV news teleprompter readers and their script writers all seem to parrot one another with some alarming statistics. Alarming the public is good for ratings, so I reckon the broadcasters are doing what their bosses want them to do, but like the Boy Who Called Wolf, they're doing a disservice to the public and in the long term eventually a disservice to themselves, as the public is going to ignore them when another real health emergency arises.
What happened since CoVid began in earnest in early 2020, is that people started masking up, social distancing and self-isolating. All of these precautions not only mitigate the transmission of CoVid - but also the flu. In part this is why the 2020 - 2021 flu numbers were close to nothing, and the 2021 - 2022 numbers were also very much subdued. Now, as we are in the beginning of the 2022 - 2023 flu season, the flu appears to be picking up where it left off in early 2020, before CoVid hit.
On the NYC.gov Health website I noticed that the number of Emergency Department visits for Influenza Like Illnesses, which they shorthand to ILL, have risen dramatically from 2021 to 2022, as have admissions - BUT the Emergency Department Admissions vis a vis the visits as a percentage has dropped to about half in 2022, versus what they were in 2021. That said, the overall number of people admitted for flu increased fairly substantially. See charts.
On April, 27, 2020 USA Today published the results of an investigation into whether hospitals were paid more for CoVid patients on a ventillator than for flu patients on a ventillator. The higher payments for CoVid patients was true, but the study didn't find any 'gaming the system' on the part of hospitals. What's meant by this is that USA Today didn't find any falsification of data by hospitals in order to obtain the higher CoVid payment for the use of their ventillator. As you can see from the chart provided by KFF, which is a non-profit focused on providing healthcare information, about $31 billion in federal government spending was targeted at providing relief to healthcare providers treating patients with CoVid.
New Cases / Hospitalizations / Deaths. In NYC we've been seeing about 300 new cases per day and on average there are about 4,000 people in NYC who have contracted and are living with CoVid. Also in NYC, as of today, about 130 patients are in the hospital with CoVid, and about a dozen folks died of it within the past day. About 14% of those tested at NYC clinics and hospitals tested positive for CoVid, but these numbers don't include the at home tests, so I don't know how meaningful a statistic the % testing positive is anymore.
Ethnicity. Murdoch's Fox News / America's Disinformation Network Seems to be Dumbing Down White New Yorkers. Given George Washington, nearly 250 years ago, mandated that his troops be vaccinated, one would think that people today would recognize the value of protecting one's health via vaccinations. On many news programs, and for many measured categories, pundits use Whites as a sort of established national standard, when evaluating the progress being made by people in other demographic groups. Historically Whites have come out on top, because they've been members of the governing class, and the ethnic majority since this nation's founding.
Murdoch media outlets have the predominant share of media in NYC, as Murdoch controls the Fox TV network, Fox 5, WNYW Channel 9, the Wall St Journal and the NY Post. Many of these Murdoch's outlets have done their audiences a disservice by not properly informing them vis a vis vaccines and vaccinations, in spite of the CoVid policies the company has implemented for itself [so Mr. Murdoch wants us to listen to his pundits as they say one thing & pay no attention to what Mr. Murdoch & Cos do, which is quite another thing].
1. Stay up to date on your CoVid vaccinations. As time goes on and this abates, perhaps we can back off this regimen and like flu, it will be something we'll vaccinate against as we age.
December 16, 2022 / 
* On Sunday at 3.30 pm the LaGuardia Performing Arts Center hosts a performance of the Nutcracker ballet in LIC. Tickets are $21 at https://www.lpac.nyc.
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. 
The union, which won't negotiate with management in person, incited the strike to prod management into moving forward with the contract renewal negotiations on a contract that expired in March of 2021. The negotiations included the fate of the pension vis a vis a 401K, medical benefits - specifically fertility insurance coverage, flex time for working in / out of the office, and of course pay. 
December 10, 2022 / 
On Saturday, from 11.30 am - 3.30 pm in Astoria, along Steinway Street between 31st and 38th Streets, Mr. & Mrs. Santa Claus will be giving out gifts while supplies last and there will holiday entertainment and displays.
December 2, 2022 / 
November 24, 2022 / 
November 25, 2022 / 
November 18, 2022 / 
Manhattan
November 11, 2022 / 
November 4, 2022 / 
* Sunday, November 6, 2022 at 2 am - Daylight Savings Time. This may be the last year where we will 'fall back' by moving our clocks back one hour starting at 2 am Sunday or before going to bed Saturday night.
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
On Wednesday, September 7th the Catholic schools in NYC reopen for the new school year.
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.