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If you’ve ever seen Coney Island’s iconic Cyclone, then you know it’s as impressive as it is scary—and we’re not just talking about its signature 85-foot drop. On a regular day, the nearly century-old wooden ride looks (and sounds) like it could disintegrate at any point.

Well, it hasn’t all been in your head: the rollercoaster was shut off indefinitely over the weekend due to some well-founded safety concerns. That’s… Petrifying?

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Last Thursday, the Cyclone stopped mid-ride while it was ascending and passengers had to be escorted off because of a damaged chain in the motor room, reports CNN. Thank goodness, nobody was injured.

The Department of Buildings (DOB) issued the park two violations: one failing to maintain the ride and the second for not informing the city about the damage right away, according to Gothamist. 

The DOB hasn’t yet announced when, exactly, the rollercoaster will re-open but it has said that the Cyclone is to remain closed until all necessary repairs have been made. 

The Cyclone first opened back in 1927 and has undergone serious maintenance work in the past. In fact, the city had planned to scrap the ride in the 1970s, before it was restored and reopened for millions of dollars. Then, in 2015, the Cyclone halted abruptly and got stuck near its peak when the transmission belt slipped off the drum, as reported by the New York Times. No one was injured in that incident, either. 

Due to its ancient status, repair work on the rollercoaster is common, but that usually happens pretty swiftly.

“The Coney Island Cyclone is a 97-year-old rollercoaster that is meticulously maintained and tested daily,” said a spokesperson for the Luna Park in a statement to News 12. “It is not uncommon to stop a ride and evacuate the ride if an issue arises for the safety of our guests. We will reopen the Cyclone rollercoaster when the repair is complete and the ride passes its DOB inspection.”

For now, you can still enjoy the other rides and entertainment options that Luna Park has to offer, including the family-friendly Tony’s Express and the 90-degree-dropper, the Thunderbolt. 

* This article was originally published here

If you’re in New York City right now, close your eyes and pay attention to what you hear: more likely than not, at any given moment, the sounds of the city feature some distant honking, perhaps some police sirens and a New Yorker screeching at the top of his her lungs for no apparent reason. One thing we can all agree on when it comes to New York is that you don’t come here to find peace and quiet. 

Believe it or not, though, the Big Apple is actually the second noisiest city in the world, and not the first, at least according to a new survey by the language-learning app Preply. 

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The survey analyzed several cities around the world and measured key factors like traffic, noise pollution levels and population density. According to those metrics, New York’s pollution level is 68.91, in part thanks to the 13 million visitors that come by each year, heavy car traffic and the loudness of the landmarks that call NYC home.

The (dis)honor of landing in first place went to Paris, which has a much higher population density per square kilometer than New York (21,000 versus 10,000), sees nearly double the amount of visitors as us yearly and has the highest number of attractions that were described as noisy or loud.

Hong Kong rounds out the top three while Frankfurt, in Germany, is apparently the quietest city in the world. 

There’s plenty of reasons we should care about how loud a city is: for one, noise pollution can lead to stress-related adverse health effects, including high blood pressure, hearing loss and sleep disruption, according to the EPA. 

Believe it or not, there are some initiatives out there intent on making our streets quieter. Last year, a bill was passed intent on installing “quiet cameras” that could flag vehicles that make noise above 85 decibels and force drivers to pay a fine for surpassing the limit. 

10 loudest cities in the world:

1. Paris

2. New York City

3. Hong Kong

4. London

5. Los Angeles

6. Barcelona

7. São Paulo

8. Tokyo

9. Singapore

10. Seoul 

* This article was originally published here

You know you can finally put your winter coats away for good once you hear the ring of Mister Softee’s jingle, and the sound alone is enough to put a pep in a New Yorker’s already fast step. The ice cream truck is a true NYC staple, but sadly we’ve been seeing less and less of those trucks around NYC, and yes, we have been checking the map that shows you exactly where you can find one in the city!

So, will Mister Softee soon no longer provide the soundtrack to our summer? The answer is yes…and no–we’ll still hear Mister Softee’s jingle ringing through the air, though it won’t be as loud as we’re used to. That’s because Mister Softee trucks are sadly disappearing.

Mister Softee has been putting smiles on people’s faces with their mouthwatering ice cream and frozen treats since 1956. At their peak (circa-1960s) there were more than 2,000 trucks across 38 different states, but that number is sadly shrinking–there are now only about 630 trucks driving across 18 states.

The reason behind the falling fleet: competition and rising costs.

Mike Conway, the vice president of Mister Softee and grandson of the company’s co-founder, told CNN:

There’s a lot more competition, especially in New York, than there was in the 1980s and 1990s. Ice cream has become more popular — more stores are doing it. Everybody is getting into the business a little bit.

As more boutique ice cream, gelato, and dessert shops open–such as Van Leeuwen and Oddfellows–competition rises. Places with milkshakes on the menu, such as Shake Shack, also come into play. And to add more fuel to the fire the company has also found itself in turf wars with independent trucks for highly coveted street corners.

Milk and ice cream supplies have also gotten more expensive, hence why customers are handing over five dollar bills for cones that used to only cost $1.

And though it sounds counter-intuitive, sweltering weather also hurts business. Carlos Vazquez, a Mister Softee franchise owner, told CNN, “If the weather is really hot, it’s not really good for business. It’s weird. People don’t want to have to walk too much. It’s creamy and melts and you get dirty and you ask for the extra napkins.”

So the fact that we’re currently in one of the hottest summers of our lifetime doesn’t help.

But it doesn’t end there.

Shrinking sizes of American families and even the advance of technology also have a role in the downfall of Mister Softee. The US Census Bureau shows that the average household size is now 2.5 compared to 3.5 in years past. That, paired with technology, not only means less kids but less kids playing outside.

Thankfully, the company is doing everything in its power to stick around, like extending their season–you’ll now hear the truck’s jingle as early as the spring and as late as November (because surely it’s never too cold for ice cream!) You can also call them to cater your events!

“Softee is an icon,” stated Vazquez. “We have to stay in the industry.” We couldn’t agree more! A summer in NYC without Mister Softee is not a summer we’re interested in.

So, if you need us, look for the nearest Mister Softee truck–we’ll be there.

The post More Than Half Of Mister Softee Trucks Have Disappeared–Here’s Why appeared first on Secret NYC.

* This article was originally published here

Going through TSA can be likened to visiting the DMV: all around unpleasant. And unfortunately for us, one of New York’s airports just ranked as having the worst TSA experience out of any airport in the country!

According to a new study from travel media company, Upgraded Points, Newark takes the crown for having the most TSA complaints at any U.S. airport.

Whether it was poor handling of property or malfunctions with expedited screening programs, the study analyzed the TSA Contact Center Complaint data between 2015 through 2023 to get its overall results on the best and worst TSA experiences across various U.S. airports.

Newark International Airport was found to have 6.83 complaints per 100,000 passengers. That’s almost twice as many TSA complaints than the national average (~3.93 complaints per 100,000 passengers).

Curious about the complaint specifics? Well, TSA PreCheck was the topic of 44.8% of all the Newark TSA complaints. The rest of Newark’s TSA complaints were in regards to customer service and mishandled baggage.

Sadly, this isn’t the first year Newark was awarded with the worst TSA experience in the U.S. It topped the same ranking in 2023, making this its second consecutive year with the most TSA complaints across any U.S. airport. At least the complaints per 100,000 passengers has gone down over the year, dropping from 12.84 complaints per 100,000 passengers in 2023 to the aforementioned 6.83 complaints per 100,000 passengers in 2024.

The top five U.S. airports with the most TSA complaints include:

1. Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
   • 6.83 complaints per 100,000 passengers
2. Palm Beach International Airport (PBI)
   • 5.78 complaints per 100,000 passengers
3. Orlando International Airport (MCO)
   • 5.6 complaints per 100,000 passengers
4. Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW)
   • 5.5 complaints per 100,000 passengers
5. Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE)
   • 5.38 complaints per 100,000 passengers

P.S. if you’re curious, New York’s JFK airport sadly ranked sixth for the most TSA complaints in the country. For now, we’ll just have to hold onto LaGuardia’s glow up that made it jump from the worst to best mid-sized airport in the country.

Inversely, the study also analyzed the U.S. airports with the least TSA complaints. Charlotte Douglas International Airport managed to only have an average of 1.97 complaints per 100,000 passengers—almost four times less complaints than Newark!

The top five U.S. airports with the least TSA complaints include:

1. Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
   • 1.97 complaints per 100,000 passengers
2. Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
   • 2.63 complaints per 100,000 passengers
3. Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
   • 2.74 complaints per 100,000 passengers
4. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
   • 2.75 complaints per 100,000 passengers
5. Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) and Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP)
   • 2.8 complaints per 100,000 passengers

You can view the entire study here.

The post This New York Airport Has The Worst Experience With TSA In The U.S. appeared first on Secret NYC.

* This article was originally published here

One of the most celebrated holidays in Italy, Ferragosto dates back to the Roman Empire. Originating from Feriae Augusti or the festival of Emperor Augustus, the month-long festivities honored fertility and the fruitful season with food, wine and religious celebrations. While Italy continues to celebrate the holiday (for one day instead of the whole month), the Bronx marks the day in its own way.

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Coming up the Sunday after Labor Day, The Ferragosto Festival is returning to the Bronx on Sunday, September 8, 2024. Taking place on Arthur Avenue between East 187th Street and Crescent Avenue, the day-long celebration highlights the area’s rich Italian culture and tradition, featuring delicious food, live music, and tons of entertainment.

Speaking of food, there are plenty of options to choose from as several local, family-owned businesses get in on the fun. Participating restaurants include Artuso Pastry Shop, Emilia’s Restaurant, Enzo’s of Arthur Avenue, Marie’s Fresh Roasted Coffee & Gifts, Mario’s Restaurant, Morrone Pastry Shop, Pasquale’s Rigoletto Restaurant, Prince Coffee Shop, Zero Otto Nove and many more. Local shops including Calabria Pork Store and Teitel will also be open during the festivities, stocked with imported cheeses, olive oils and tomatoes from the motherland. Don’t forget to stop by Vincent’s Meat Market for quality butchered meats and charcuterie on the way home. With 20 plus participating grocery stores, markets, and restaurants on offer, the true choice will be what to check out first.

If you need a breather from all the food, the entertainment is sure to please. Emceed by Bronx native Nick Vero, the stage will feature music from vocalist Jenna Esposito, Elio Scaccio and tribute band RockSteady. The Renaissance-style street theater group Department of Fools will be returning, bringing the traditions of Commedia dell’Arte to Bronx Little Italy.

So come hungry and celebrate all things Italia. Don’t forget to bring cash.

The Ferragosto Festival will take place on Sunday, September 8, 2024 starting at noon to 6pm. Entry is free. For more information, head to their website.  

* This article was originally published here