UPDATE: As of May 20, 2024, “The Portal” is officially back open daily from 6am to 4pm.

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“The Portal,” a public technology sculpture that debuted near the Flatiron Building on May 8 featuring a webcam connecting NYC and Dublin with a 24/7 live video stream, was supposed to be a uniting cultural force, broadcasting real-time videos of scenes from two corners of the world. 

Unfortunately, though, that’s not exactly what happened: “The Portal” has just shut down temporarily following “inappropriate behavior” from folks in the Irish capital. Clearly, we don’t deserve cool art projects.

According to the New York Post, people in Dublin have been flashing swastikas, their own bare bottoms and even more unbecoming images that have gone viral. Have you not seen the video of the “very drunk” woman getting led away by cops in Ireland after “slapping and grinding against the portal?”

You’d be pardoned for laughing at the sight of New Yorkers watching the scene unfold from 3,200 miles away. Here it is, just in case:

The Dublin City Council put out an official statement about the developments earlier this week, pointing out that, despite the videos circulating on social media, the “overwhelming majority of interactions are positive.” That being said, changes clearly need to be made for the 3.5-ton portals to continue operating properly.

“While we cannot control all of these actions, we are implementing some technical solutions to address this and these will go live in the next 24 hours,” the political body said in the statement. “We will continue to monitor the situation over the coming days with our partners in New York to ensure that portals continue to deliver a positive experience for both cities and the world.”

No exact details about what those fixes will look like or when, exactly, they will be implemented have been made public yet. 

Although some attendees have stepped up to the webcam to sweetly address people on the other side of the screen—some even setting up timed meetings with loved ones across the the ocean!—the improper behaviors have taken center stage, showcasing the most deplorable aspects of human nature. 

We’d be remiss not to point out that, we’re surprised. New Yorkers can be very indecorous but it wasn’t our behavior that has forced the art project’s organizers to shut things down!

* This article was originally published here

Once again, we’ve got proof that New York is home to some of the best restaurants in the world.

The 2024 list of the World’s Best Steak Restaurants was just released and our very own town appears on the top 101 ranking eight times in total, including within the top five portion of the survey. 

Cote, the Korean BBQ destination that opened at 16 West 22nd Street in the Flatiron District back in 2017, lands at the number four spot of the list. Among the plenty delicious menu sections on site is the “butcher’s feast,” an assortment of delicacies that, according to the study, “showcase both quality and culinary craft.” Grilled right at your table, the selections are served with traditional Korean side dishes (they’re called “banchan”) and a number of different sauces.  

The number 22 restaurant on the ranking is Beefbar, an impressive entry given that the Monte-Carlo meat haven founded by Riccardo Giraudi opened in the former Nobu space at 105 Hudson Street near Tribeca just last month. 

One of only seven restaurants in New York to be part of the Kobe Beef Association, the eatery focuses on prime beef, including traditional cuts of Wagyu and Black Angus.

The sophisticated American Cut, at 363 Greenwich Street right around the corner from Beefbar, is the 34th entry on the list, certainly the go-to destination if looking for top-notch service alongside exceptional food. Bonus points: the apps served here, not necessarily all meat-based, are just as great as the rest of the offerings.

The iconic Keens at 72 West 36th Street by Herald Square lands at number 40. The steakhouse is clearly a must-visit: not only has it been open since 1885 but it has been serving the same signature dish since then. The mutton chop is a 36-ounce saddle of lamb skirted with fat that’s nearly two inches tall and will haunt long after you’ve left the premise.

Gallaghers Steakhouse at 228 West 52nd Street in midtown Manhattan is yet another New York restaurant to make the global list, this one at spot number 61. A popular pre-theater destination given its location, the legendary steakhouse is also famous for the glass meat locker that guests can gaze at as soon as they walk in. It’s basically dry-aged beef heaven in there.

The worldwide ranking also includes Time Warner Center’s Porter House (10 Columbus Circle, 4th floor) at spot number 61 and Peter Luger (178 Broadway in Brooklyn), perhaps the most recognized name in the local steakhouse scene, at number 84.

French restaurant and celebrity go-to spot Minetta Tavern (113 MacDougal Street) rounds out the New York mentions at number 85. 

Just in case you were wondering, as you should, who topped the entire ranking: it’s Parilla Don Julio in Buenos Aires. Serving exceptional Argentinian cuisine, the destination has also gained recognition for its impressive wine offerings.

You can browse through the entire survey, and perhaps use it as an inspiration when booking your next trip, right here.

* This article was originally published here