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Looking for a place to hunker down? Now Now Noho is now accepting reservations beginning April 1st.

Ideal for solo travelers, the downtown hotel located at 338 Bowery is perfect for those searching for comfortable — and chic — accommodations but don’t necessarily need a large suite or the fancy prices that go along with it. Originally constructed as a lodging house in 1917, Now Now Noho might have historic roots, but the sleeper cabin interior is a modern feat worthy of an Architectural Digest spread, courtesy of Islyn Studio.

Step inside Now Now Noho

Private 25-square-foot cabins with luxe amenities boast Garniet-Thiebaut linens and Brooklinen robes while providing a small sanctuary for visitors to rest and recharge before their next outing. Bathrooms are shared at the hotel, but rooms are private and feature the basics backpackers need: hangers, outlets, safes, etc., as well as add-ons like Fuji cameras to capture your travel memories, an iPad to peruse in the evening, etc.

Prices start at $118, an enticing factor for someone who might not be splitting costs during time away from home. Additionally, women-only floors are available for female and non-binary travelers.

The seventh project from Dovetail + Co. emphasizes a “small footprint, high design, and big adventures.” The space itself might not be terribly large, but the offerings surrounding Now Now Noho are: vibrant neighborhoods — the Lower East Side, the East Village, Soho, etc. — a forthcoming events calendar with events like wellness classes at Three Jewels, happy hours at Bowery Electric, and coffee cuppings at Dark Matter Coffee, and springtime vacancy.

“Now Now NoHo was created to bring travelers an affordable yet meaningful experience in one of the most vibrant neighborhoods in New York City,” said Phil Hospod, founder and chief executive officer of Dovetail + Co. “We’re thrilled to offer a basecamp where guests can recharge, explore, and connect with fellow adventurers. It’s not just a place to stay — it’s a gateway to everything that makes New York City extraordinary.”

If you’re gearing up for a springtime visit to NYC — considered an ideal time for a pitstop — book your room ASAP and start mapping out your 2025 NYC bucket list.

338 Bowery 

Reservations for April 1st 

From $118

The post NYC’s Brand-New Hotel Designed For Solo Travelers Is Now Accepting Spring Reservations appeared first on Secret NYC.

* This article was originally published here

The Lunar New Year on Wednesday, January 29th, marks the Year of the Snake, a symbol of wisdom and personal growth. In celebration, the Empire State Building will glow red & gold on Tuesday, February 4th.

The Empire State Building lights are a beloved tradition that alters its signature white lights to endless color combinations on special occasions and holidays. Next week’s red and gold lights will be in partnership with Gold House. Gold House is a cultural ecosystem that champions and unites Asian Pacific leaders with a mission for socioeconomic equity.

One of the most notable NYC celebrations of Spring Festival (a.k.a. the Chinese New Year) each year is the Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade. This year’s parade will takeover the lower Manhattan neighborhood with dragon dancing, martial arts, traditional garb and more! The parade route will head down Mott and Canal streets, ending at Grand Street near the Sara D. Roosevelt Park.

Other festive Lunar New Year activities in NYC include an epic three-night music festival at Avant Gardner, traditional lion dances in Downtown Brooklyn and more you can explore with our full guide.

After illuminating in red and gold for the Chinese New Year, the Empire State Building will have a pink heartbeat the following week for Valentine’s Day.

Lights are usually visible from sundown (thankfully now happening after 5pm) through 2am. You can keep track of the Empire State Building’s light schedule with its special lights calendar online.

The post The Empire State Building Will Illuminate Red & Gold For The Chinese New Year appeared first on Secret NYC.

* This article was originally published here

Spring will bring with it warmer than usual temperatures, the budding of new blooms, and the piercing buzzing of Brood XIV as billions of cicadas emerge from underground.

Cicada Safari, founded by Gene Kritsky, has been studying cicadas and gathering data on their movement to track this year’s brood. Here’s everything you should know:

What are periodical cicadas and cicada broods?

According to Cicada Safari, “Periodical cicadas are insects that belong to the order Hemiptera, which includes the stink bugs, bed bugs, aphids, and cicada families.” After hatching, the immature cicadas, also known as nymphs, spend either 13 or 17 years feeding underground before emerging and transforming into adult cicadas in what’s called “broods.”

What is cicada Brood XIV?

Brood XIV is the second largest periodical cicada brood after Brood XIX, and is also known as the “Great(er) Eastern Brood.” In 2076, Brood XIV will co-emerge with Brood XIX.

When will Brood XIV cicadas emerge?

Brood XIV was first reported in 1634, and the last time we heard this particular group of cicadas buzzing was in 2008. The exact moment when these insects will emerge in NYC is not known for sure, but Cicada Safari writes:

Our next major emergence of the periodical cicadas will start in late April and early May 2025, when the 17-year Brood XIV will emerge.

The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation adds, however, that most emerge in May and June.

Where will Brood XIV cicadas emerge?

This year, it’s expected to bring cicadas to 13 states, including New York, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.

A map of exactly where the brood will emerge can be seen below:

Do cicadas provide any benefits?

Yes, periodical cicadas do much more than provide the soundtrack to your summer. Cicada Safarin notes that some benefits cicadas provide include the following:

• Their underground tunnels act as a natural aeration of the soil
• The large number of adult cicadas provides an abundance of food to many predators, resulting in a positive impact on their populations
• The females’ egg-laying in trees acts as a natural pruning that results in the tree producing more flowers and fruit the following year
• Cicadas’ decaying bodies contribute a massive amount of nutrients to the soil

What else is there to know about cicadas?

There are four species of 13-year cicadas–Magicicada tredecim, Magicicada neotredecim, Magicicada tredecassini, and Magicicada tredecula–and three species of 17-year cicadas–Magicicada septendecim, Magicicada cassini and Magicicada septendecula.

Beyond the cicada broods, straggler cicadas sometimes emerge a year late in areas that had a large emergence the year prior. And if you’re looking for some cicada-related trivia–aren’t we all?!–only the male cicadas sing, and they do so via sound-producing structures called tymbals on either side of their abdomen.

The post Billions–Yes, Billions–Of Buzzing Cicadas Will Emerge From Underground This Spring appeared first on Secret NYC.

* This article was originally published here

Prefer a more untraditional date idea this Valentine’s Day? What about a stroll past one of the most decorated houses in NYC? Bay Ridge’s iconic holiday house has swapped their towering Christmas trees and gift boxes for glittery pink hearts and a Betty Boop display!

The illuminated pink paradise is completely free to visit and will remain up until Valentine’s Day (February 14th, 2025). The lights remain on 24/7, so whatever time you visit, you’ll be sure to see the extraordinary decorations.

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As with all holidays, the display is quite literally a labor of love, done by Roy Jensen, the owner of the house, and his family. At the end of 2024, we spoke to Jensen’s daughter, Christina, who shared that her father works endlessly from one holiday to the next to get the display up as soon as possible.

Jensen began this tradition on a much smaller scale back when he first bought the property 36 years ago. As the years went on, more and more lights and decorations were added.

The house has become a community staple, as Christina mentioned having so many regulars pass by to cheer the family on while they decorate each holiday.

“What started as a family tradition turned into something we never imagined. Since we’ve gone viral online, we’ve engaged with so many people out of state, all over the world who come by just to visit our display. It’s a wonderful feeling for everyone,” said Christina.

635 79th Street, Brooklyn

The post This Brooklyn House Has The Most Over-The-Top Valentine’s Day Decorations appeared first on Secret NYC.

* This article was originally published here