Author: Site Adminstrator
Check out renderings of the renovated Brooklyn Public Library’s main branch
Phase two of the Brooklyn Public Library’s previously announced $150 million renovation project is about to kick off, specifically targeting the cultural center’s flagship branch at 10 Grand Army Plaza.
According to an official press release, the renovation efforts at the Central Library “will significantly increase available public space while maintaining the deep collections needed for recreation and research.”
Even more specifically, this second phase will bring along with it an updated adult learning center boasting a state-of-the-art computer lab, a seminar room and loads of gathering spaces; a new teen center featuring a study area, a tech center, recording pods and a gaming center; restored collection areas with increased functionality and a renovated children’s center with tons of new interactive shelving displays, reading nooks and more.
You’re going to have to be patient to reap the benefits of all these upgrades, though: to allow for regular library operations to continue without library closure, the work will be carried out in phases and likely be completed by 2027.
“The Central Library is more than just a library—it is one of the city’s most invaluable and important community spaces,” said Mayor Eric Adams in an official statement. “From hosting generational defining cultural exhibits to serving 1.3 million visitors annually across the globe, the Central Library carries an international reputation for its excellence and leadership. With an updated brand new tech center, revamped adult learning center and restored collection area, the Central Library is continuing to provide inclusive, critically needed services to all who come through its doors.”
As the project moves forward, officials hope to repurpose lower-level storage areas for public use and eventually connect the library to Mount Prospect Park through a new, elevated outdoor reading garden. How cool does that sound?
This interactive map shows when fall foliage will peak in NY
Smile, New Yorkers: fall is around the corner, basically the only season during which it is acceptable to go outside and actually interact with nature despite our die-hard urbanism.
Perhaps the very best way to enjoy the autumn weather is to go leaf peeping, which is where this interactive fall foliage map comes in.
The tool is pretty easy to use: scroll through the date bar at the bottom of the map and you’ll notice the colors shifting in each state, from green (no change) to dark brown (past peak).
According to the map, New Yorkers will start seeing minimal to patchy changes in the color of leaves in the next couple of weeks, leading to peak season between the end of September and the beginning of October. We’ll likely be past peak by mid-October, taking us straight into the colder winter season. That is all to say: you only have a few weeks to properly enjoy the fall so make use of it by consulting the above-mentioned map and our list of best spots to catch nature in all of its glory.
Make sure to scroll past the tool as well to read more about the science behind leaf-changing (remember photosynthesis?), what actually happens out there as the seasons change and more.
Happy fall and happy viewing, folks!
This 10,000-square-foot haunted house is returning to NYC this year
Fans of all things spooky, rejoice: one of the most popular haunted houses in New York, Blood Manor, will reopen later this month on September 28 for its 21st year.
The 10,000 square-foot mansion at 359 Broadway in Manhattan boasts plenty of blood-chilling rooms, spooky corridors and a labyrinth filled with surprises that will make you jump in abject horror.
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But there’s more: a great cast of actors equipped to instill maximum jump scares and state-of-the-art special effects and technology that combine reality with fantasy so that you don’t quite know what’s real and what isn’t.
Some things to keep in mind: the entire journey through Blood Manor is done on foot it is recommended not to wear white or expensive clothing for fear of getting dirty. Groups of six are led in at once to take in the 20-minute-long experience but, if you’re too scared, you can exit the shenanigans at any given point. The staff on hand is also trained not to touch guests.
People are let into Blood Manor in groups of six, and a typical journey through the entire experience takes about 20 minutes. If you get too scared during the experience, there are exit points throughout the entire space, but if your mind is playing tricks on you and you feel like you might get hurt, don’t worry: The staff at Blood Manor is actually trained not to touch its guests.
You can snag your timed entry tickets here. If you don’t want to commit to a certain time, you might want to opt for a walk-in visit during the last two hours of the day every night. The only caveat is that you might have to wait a little bit longer to walk in.
BloodManor will be open to the public starting Saturday, September 28 and every Friday, Saturday and Sunday until November 3.
Danny Cortes’ New Mini Masterpiece Is A Nostalgic Nod To The Subway
It appears plenty of us have a penchant for 1989, including Bushwick artist Danny Cortes.
The revered creator of miniature models took a step back in time by crafting a pint-sized 35-year-old subway station, an ironic choice for a system that’s seemingly trying to move forward.
But there’s something about New York in the ’80s that the Brooklyn native wants to keep alive in his work.
“The stations had a rough, raw energy, with flickering lights, worn-down benches, and a sense of chaos,” he tells Secret NYC. “There was a kind of unpolished authenticity that I loved, even though the system was far from perfect.”
Graffiti-clad tiles and steel staircases coated with dirt and grime might not seem ideal when appropriately sized, but feels like perfection when crafted into a handheld piece of art — just ask Cortes’ followers.
The subway station — Times Square 42nd Street, to be exact — received hundreds of thousands of likes on Instagram and is already sold out, but will be available for a limited-time preorder within a few weeks.
Though the work is tiny in size, the attention to detail is quite the opposite.
“I work piece by piece, taking inspiration from my memories and the culture of that time, so the final product feels like a snapshot of New York in 1989,” Cortes adds.
He began by letting old images jog his memory, building the framework of the model, then adding layers of paint and weathering effects to make it a throwback. To add to the late-’80s charm are recreations of Back To the Future and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids movie posters — two of the creator’s favorites.
“These movies became iconic for me, and I still love them to this day” he says. “They’re timeless, just like those memories of New York City’s subway system in the late ’80s. That’s why I chose to incorporate that year in my piece — it’s a reflection of a special moment in my life and the cultural markers of that time.”
But time does have a way of marching on, though Cortes’ collection serves as a great reminder of the city’s “soul, struggles, and evolution.”
“You don’t see the same kind of street art or the old, nostalgic ads that once gave the stations a unique, lived-in feel,” he adds. “In a way, the subway has evolved just like the city itself — it’s more polished, but some of that old New York grit is missing.”
Keep that spirit alive by following Danny Cortes‘ next moves in the art world and paying a visit to a few NYC exhibits.
Now, stand clear of the closing doors, please.
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