There’s nothing like a diner—ask any New Yorker, and they likely have a favorite. A fabric of the city, diners have buoyed us through our everyday life, from a welcome stop on a morning commute to a much-needed midnight jaunt during a tipsy night out. But according to the New York Times, diners are disappearing at a record pace, due to rising rents, shrinking profits and gentrification. Now, a West Village mainstay is asking for help, hoping to not become the next casualty.
La Bonbonniere, the beloved greasy spoon located on Eighth Avenue near West 12th Street, posted a call for help on GoFundMe. Organized by Gabriel Nussbaum and Happy David, the donation page is requesting funds to help keep the diner open, due to costs associated with the forced dismantling its dining shed and renovation costs.
“The mayor said the dining sheds have to come down,” said the GoFundMe page. “Bonbonniere survived COVID because of your support and because of its dining shed success. Who could have guessed that eating in the middle of 8th avenue would become part of our routine?”
This call for help seemingly resulted from the ongoing saga of dining sheds in New York. As reported on Time Out, Saturday, August 3, was the deadline for restaurants to reapply for the new program for outdoor dining, Dining Out NYC. Restaurants that did not apply must remove their current outdoor dining set ups. Failure to comply will result in fines, starting with $500 for the first offense, and going upwards of $1,000 a day. And while the new guidelines will help to standardize the outdoor dining program—including rules around walkways and approved structures—according to owner Gus Maroulletis, the costs to participate in the program are left to restaurants to figure out.
“More than 30,000. Take it down, put it back maybe 50,000, 60,000 and now November I have to take it out again,” said Maroulletis to Fox 5.
New York’s unofficial talent scout, Nicholas Heller (@newyorknico) is helping to spread the word, calling out to his community to help while detailing where the funds would go. Shooting for a goal of $100,000, the money raised would go toward removing the outdoor structure, a new awning to help prevent flooding, interior restoration and to help support staff during the renovations. If they raise enough funds, the diner will reinstate their outdoor dining structure in 2025, aligning with the new code.
Translating to “a little candy dish,” La Bonbonniere has been in operation since the 1930s. Currently owned by Maroulletis and Marina Cortez Arrieta, the doors of the diner have remained open through it all, including 9/11, the blackout of 2003 and Hurricane Sandy. And while they have helped their community, in return, the community helped them right back. Struggling to keep its doors open during the pandemic, the diner launched its first-ever GoFundMe on March 26, 2020. The initial posting requested funds to help survive closures, abide by city mandates and help with lost wages.
“Right now it’s just the owners, Marina and Gus, working seven days, all the boys have been sent home, and they’re pulling in nothing, maybe $120 a day, trying to keep it alive,” said the original post in 2020. “When the city reopens, what will the city be, without a place like Bonbonniere? If Bonbonniere is gone when we’re all back in business and hungry for lunch, then what has New York become?” said the original post.
The owners still hope that they won’t know a city without their restaurant and hope that this last push will keep them open for the future ahead.
“If it outlasted the covid shutdown, it can survive the dining shed teardown … but not without some love from the neighborhood,” reads the donation page.
As of this writing, the GoFundMe has raised over $82,000 with a goal of $100,000. To learn more and donate, head to the page here.
Labor Day Weekend is quickly approaching (August 30 – September 2) and if you’re looking for something to plan for the long weekend, we have some recommendations for you! The “unofficial end of summer” and 3-day long weekend is the perfect time to getaway from NYC one last time for a getaway.
Just a few hour’s drive from the city, there’s plenty of charming destinations to book for the weekend…whether you fancy one last beach trip or maybe an early fall mountain excursion. Here’s the best Labor Day Weekend getaways from NYC to book before autumn season begins.
1. New Paltz, NY
Source / Twin Star Orchards
Just a short drive north of NYC is New Paltz, a quaint and nature-driven town where there’s so much to do…like hiking, kayaking, and wine tasting. We suggest heading out here during Labor Day Weekend because it’s destined to be the perfect time weather-wise to explore the likes of the Mohonk Preserve and Minnewaska State Park, Huguenot Street, and Nyquist-Harcourt Wildlife Sanctuary. We also highly recommend visiting the lovely Twin Star Orchards, a massive 210-acre property that features award-winning natural hard ciders and wood-fired pizza from Brooklyn Cider House.
Don’t forget to get apple picking too (Dressel Farms, Jenkins-Lueken Orchards, Apple Hill Farm to name a few) since LDW is officially the start of apple season!
Distance from NYC: 1 hour, 30 minutes
2. Atlantic City, NJ
Source / Ocean Casino Resort
Feeling lucky?! Atlantic City’s lively casinos, beaches, and iconic boardwalk can be a glitzy weekend getaway to end the summer off with a bang. Book a stay at the Ocean Casino Resort (who’s hosting an Olympics-themed pop-up “Medal Bar” through LDW), and you’ll be right on the beach and right within reach of all the fun. Besides the casinos and restaurants, there’s also plenty of concerts, comedy shows, and other entertainment happening too.
You can always balance it out too with the beach or a visit to the Absecon Lighthouse or Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge. You can pretty much pick your vacation vibe here.
It’s safe to say The Hamptons and Montauk were the destination of Summer 2024, and there’s still a chance to book your stay before it’s over! Known for its upscale charm and gorgeous beaches, its that kind of vacation where you can ball out and get your money’s worth. No matter what you want out of a weekend getaway here there’s something for everyone…luxury shopping, fine dining, and art galleries or even laid-back surfing, fishing, and outdoor activities.
Spend Labor Day Weekend in the rolling hills of The Berkshires, Western Massachusetts’ gorgeous oasis that serves as the perfect spot for nature lovers and art enthusiasts. There’s plenty of charming towns in the region, many of which are renowned for outdoor activities, (early) fall foliage, and plenty of culture!
We recommend grabbing a cabin of sorts and checking out some of the area renowned cultural institutions like Tanglewood, the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Norman Rockwell Museum, the Clark Art Institute, and more. Plus, there’s plenty of amazing farm-to-table restaurants to taste test if you’re a foodie.
Although the best time to visit The Berkshires is mid-October for the fall foliage, heading there for LDW gives you a chance to scout the best towns and hiking trails!
Distance from NYC: 3 hours
5. The Finger Lakes
Source / Shutterstock
How about some wineries, waterfalls, and stunning lakes this Labor Day Weekend? The Finger Lakes region near Central New York is well worth a getaway…and there’s so many incredible towns to pick from. Some of the most notable to jot down include:
Ithaca, NY: Home to natural wonders like Taughannock Falls State Park, Buttermilk Falls State Park, and Cornell University
Watkins Glen, NY: Home to Watkins Glen State Park and Watkins Glen International raceway
Skaneateles, NY: Sits on Skaneateles Lake and features charming downtown filled with boutiques, galleries, and restaurants
Canandaigua, NY: Sits on north end of northern end of Canandaigua Lake with attractions like Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion State Historic Park and popular wineries Finger Lakes Wine Company and Arbor Hill Grapery & Winery
Distance from NYC: 4 hours 30 minutes
6. Hudson Valley
Facebook / Mohonk Mountain House
We love the Hudson Valley and by now it’s well documented that the region is one of our favorite weekend getaways. The area’s charming towns are less than a couple hours away from NYC and they’re incredible for outdoor activities, natural landscapes, history, and wineries/breweries. It’s hard to dig deep into the Hudson Valley in just one short paragraph, so here’s a few towns to bookmark:
Rhinebeck, NY: Visit Wilderstein Historic Site, Ferncliff Forest, and have a meal at The Amsterdam.
Hudson, NY: Walk to the Olana State Historic Site and see the interesting Hudson Athens Lighthouse
Beacon, NY: Be amazed by the Bannerman Castle, shop at the Beacon Flea Market, and have a drink at Denning’s Point Distillery
New Paltz, NY: As mentioned earlier, it’s home to the gorgeous Minnewaska State Park, historic Huguenot Street, and luxurious Mohonk Mountain House
7. Lake Placid, NY
Source / Shutterstock
Escape to the Adirondack Mountains this Labor Day Weekend to see Lake Placid, a northern New York town with tons of heritage and stunning nature. If you’re still inspired by the 2024 Paris Olympics, you’ll absolutely love this destination since it was a host city to the Winter Games in both 1932 and 1980. You can explore remnants of the town’s Olympics heritage which still stands today…or opt for some outdoor recreation yourself in the form of hiking the High Peaks, kayaking, and canoeing in Mirror Lake.
Fall foliage tends to peak earlier than most NY places in Lake Placid, so you can probably see some early orange and red leaves during LDW!
Distance from NYC: 5 hours
8. Cape May, NJ
Source / Shutterstock
One of our favorite beach towns along the Jersey Shore, Cape May is unbelievably charming…from the stunnig Victorian architecture to the well-preserved beachfronts. The town itself is a National Historic Landmark and there’s so much to do besides the beach. Stroll through town and visit their boutique shops, cafes, and restaurants…or go for an adventure and explore the Cape May Lighthouse or take a dolphin-watching cruise.
It’s the ultimate Jersey Shore weekend getaway without all of the tourists that some of the bigger-name towns attract during LDW.
Distance from NYC: 3 hours
9. Wildwood, NJ
Source / Shutterstock
Although a little more touristy, Wildwood, NJ is a great Labor Day Weekend getaway especially if you have kids! You’ll get the “classic Jersey Shore experience” here…wide sandy beaches, an iconic boardwalk, and loads of amusement parks and water rides. A long 3 day weekend is all the time you need in Wildwood, enough time to take advantage of thefree public beach, amusement park Morey’s Piers, and massive water park Splash Zone Water Park.
If these high foot-trafficked areas aren’t really what you’re looking for on a vacation, book a spot at the outer Wildwood Crest area which has much quieter beaches and accommodation but is still close to the action.
Distance from NYC: 3 hours
10. Rehoboth Beach, DE
Source / Rehoboth Beach
Rehoboth Beach, Delaware might just be the furthest destination on this list, but it could definitely be the best for Labor Day Weekend. It’s Delaware’s best beach town in our opinion and is a great spot to spend the unofficial last weekend of summer. Like other spots on this list, the beach and accompanying boardwalk are the main attractions here, but there’s other great things to check out too like the Funland amusement park for the kids or Clear Space Theatre Company for some performing arts.
If you feel kinda iffy every time you take a hot and humid whiff of the New York subway, it’s not just in your head: It turns out that the air in the subway is literally toxic, according to a new study conducted by NYU.
Among other things, the study found that many subway platforms and trains contain a high concentration of fine particulate matter, which is a type of air pollution that can lead to lung disease, chronic bronchitis or even lung cancer if exposed frequently and for long periods of time, according to the New York State Department of Health.
The study was conducted by researchers Shams Azad, Pau Ferrer-Cid and Masoud Ghandehari, who measured the concentration of a specific type of fine particulate matter called PM2.5 at several stations throughout the city. On top of that, the study found that Black and Hispanic commuters faced 23% more polluted air than their white counterparts, largely a result of longer commutes and lengthier wait times on average.
According to the research paper that was published this year, the main culprit for such high concentrations of particular matter had to do with the rubbing of metal wheels and brakes on the rails, which releases tiny metal particles into the poorly ventilated air, per Bloomberg. The highest concentrations of pollution were found in stations in Upper Manhattan and the Bronx.
We’re not just talking about higher-than-normal air pollution—in some stations, the researchers found that the air quality can be up to 15 times worst than what’s recommended by the World Health Organization, according to FOX 5. If you’re concerned about how much pollution you might be facing on a daily basis, the researchers created a map where you can calculate how much PM2.5 you might be exposed to during your commute.
The researchers recommended wearing a high quality mask if you’re worried about the pollution.
The study referenced many other studies from the last decade or so, including a similar study published by NYU Langone in 2021 that found that the subway, including the PATH platforms were the most polluted system in the Northeast. The MTA said then that it was “totally committed to protecting the health and safety” of its workers and riders and that it would review that study’s findings, but previous air quality tests found no health risks due to air pollutants.
This time, MTA Communications Director Tim Minton defended the subway system pretty fervently in a statement: “This recycled ‘study’ based on years-old ‘data’ has long since been debunked,” he said. “Every serious person knows transit is the antidote to climate change, the one reason NYC is the greenest city around, and an engine of equity for people of all communities who need an affordable, safe way to get to jobs, schools and opportunities of every kind.”
We’re not quite sure what that has to do with toxic air particles, but it looks like it’s a good time to mask up for now.
As if a proposal for a suspended skyscraper that would hang inverted from an asteroid wasn’t enough, this new proposal would build the world’s tallest building that wouldn’t just be your ordinary, run-of-the-mill skyscraper–it would actually be a 3,000-foot-tall battery.
As reported by the CNN, architectural firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), who’s the firm behind iconic buildings such as One World Trade, has joined forces with Energy Vault to bring the mega battery to life.
The skyscraper would, in a way, act as a storage unit for electricity to be used as “potential” energy.
Giant elevated blocks would be elevated into the air when energy demand was low, and when the city was in need of an energy spike, the giant blocks would descend and release the stored energy to be converted into electricity.
Bill Baker, a consulting partner at SOM and structural engineer for the Burj Khalifa, told CNN:
Here’s an opportunity to take this expertise … and use it for energy storage, enabling us to wean ourselves [off] fossil fuels.
CNN writes how to live with a power grid dominated by clean energy energy storage is crucial–cloudy skies get in the way of using solar energy, while days without wind prevent turbines from generating power. This proposed skyscraper would solve these issues.
If constructed, the skyscraper could stand as tall as 3,300 feet with “hollowed out structures resembling elevator shafts for moving the blocks, leaving room for residential and commercial tenants,” according to CNN.
They’re reportedly also toying with the idea of integrating pumped storage hydropower into the skyscrapers and using water instead of blocks which could store multi-gigawatts-hours of energy, enough energy to power several buildings.
SOM and Energy Vault are still in search of partners that could help bring these battery towers to fruition. Robert Piconi, the CEO of Energy Vault, told CNN that “SOM’s credibility in the tall buildings arena will help address the challenge of getting the first one built.”
You can learn more about the battery skyscraper here.
In fact, daylight saving is only three months away. And when it’s time to turn the clocks back on November 3, 2024, we will only see 10 hours and 20 minutes of daylight. That’s 3 hours and 40 minutes less daylight than the 14 hours we will get today on August 9, 2024.
Screenshots from Time & DateScreenshots from Time & Date
The shortest day of the year will be on the Winter Solstice which is December 21, 2024. This day will be 5 hours and 50 minutes shorter (in terms of daylight) than that of the Summer Solstice.
However, it’s important to remember it’s still summer and there’s still plenty hours of daylight to soak up before autumn arrives. So be sure to jam-pack the remaining weeks of nice weather and longer days with our 2024 summer bucket list.
