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Oh the price we pay for smelly streets, terrible traffic and sweltering subways…

According to a new Cost of Living Index from Numbeo, NYC is the third most expensive city in the entire world! So expensive, that the entire freaking study used NYC as a baseline. What we mean by that is all of the indices were relative to NYC’s baseline index of 100%.

Numbeo took a look at six specific indexes: cost of living index, rent index, groceries index, restaurants index, cost of living plus rent index, local purchasing power.

So for example, if the rent index for a random city in the ranking was 140%, that means that the city’s rent would be 40% more expensive than NYC’s. If a city’s groceries index was 70%, then that city’s groceries would be 30% less expensive than the groceries in NYC.

In order to collect all of the data, Numbeo utilized both user-generated input and manual information collection from various governmental institutions, supermarket websites and so on.

But forget about the methodology, I’m sure everyone’s wondering who beat us out for second and first. Both second and first place hail from the same country of Switzerland with Geneva taking the title of the most expensive city in the world, and Zurich not far behind in second place. The United States dominates the rest of the top five with San Francisco in fourth and Boston in fifth.

Geneva’s highest indexes were cost of living (101.7), groceries (111.4), and restaurant price (101.5). But what really set it ahead in the ranking was Geneva’s sheer local purchasing power (152.2). Again, to clarify, that means the people making the average salary of a Geneva resident can purchase 52.2% more goods and services than those making the average salary in NYC.

Interestingly enough, both Geneva and Zurich have a lower rent index than NYC. So though Geneva is the most expensive city in the world, rent is still 40.4% less expensive than NYC rent.

You can explore the full ranking here.

The post NYC Is Officially The 3rd Most Expensive City In The World appeared first on Secret NYC.

* This article was originally published here

Serendipity3 has long been keeping New York on a sugar high with decadent treats and ice cold creations. Established in 1954, the Upper East Side dessert shop has been a favorite to locals and celebrities alike. Marilyn Monroe would study scripts while sipping on frrrozen hot chocolates while Andy Warhol had a go-to order: a New York-style hot dog topped with sauerkraut, a side of crispy french fries and a frozen hot chocolate. Recently, Kim Kardashian made an appearance for her daughter’s birthday and Selena Gomez even has a sundae named after herself. A known Instagrammable spot, the hardest question to figure out is whether to sit underneath one of the many chandeliers or snag a spot by the majestic neon-horned pegasus mounted on the wall. To celebrate a whopping 70 years in business, the concept is bringing its sweetness to Times Square.

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On August 20, Serendipity3 will open a new location on West 47th street within OYO Times Square Hotel. Designed by New York-based architect Wid Chapman, the space aims to expand on the original whimsy of the flagship location—think Pop Art from Andy Warhol, purple neon-hued chandeliers and its iconic fireplace, this time made of glass.

But the real draw here are the desserts, of course. The most famous of them all? The Frrrozen Hot Chocolate. Starting with a base of ice cold chocolate, this Wonka-esque treat boasts 13 different varieties—including cookie crumble, birthday cake and Fruity Pebbles— always finished with a mountain of whipped cream. But the chocolate blackout cakes, apple pies and classic drug store sundaes with toppings galore are not to be missed. And if your sweets budget doesn’t exist, Serendpity3 holds the Guinness World Record for the world’s most expensive milkshake. The $100 LUXE Milkshake comes with two scoops of Tahitian vanilla ice cream, Devonshire double clotted cream and 23 karat gold, served in a blinged out glass decorated with 3,000 Austrian crystals.

To come down from the sugar high, the restaurant feeds with loaded nachos, footlong hot dogs and a truffle burger with fresh truffle shavings tucked inside. Similar to the Upper East Side location, the new restaurant will also serve a line of cocktails and boozy-infused treats.

Keep an eye on its Instagram to see when this sweet treat is landing.

* This article was originally published here

In the wise words of Ernie from Sesame Street: “Rubber ducky, you’re the one.” 

Much to the delight of Ernie and other duck-loving creatures, the self-described “world’s largest rubber duck“ is coming to two locations in New York state this month. This 6-story tall duck, affectionally known as Mama Duck, can pose in land or on the water. As her spokespeople say, “the world is her bathtub.” So if you’re looking to waddle away from the city for a ducky little day trip, here’s where to go. 

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For her first appearance in New York this month, she’s heading to Splish Splash, the water park in Calverton on Long Island from August 2-4. That’s about a two-hour drive from Manhattan or a three-plus hour journey on public transit (and coincidentally not far from the infamous 20-foot-tall Big Duck in Flanders.)

Her second appearance will be at Playland in Rye, located in Westchester County. She’ll be stationed at the amusement park from August 16–18. That’s about a 45-minute drive from midtown Manhattan or an hour-and-a-half on public transit.

Though she’s not venturing into the city limits, there is a form online where you can request her to visit your neighborhood. 

She’s a family friendly media darling who truly will quack you up. Mama Duck made her debut in Los Angeles in 2014 to great fanfare and has now toured widely. 

“The World’s Largest Rubber Duck’s mission is to spread happiness and love wherever she goes and a gentle reminder to enjoy our outdoor spaces wisely, preserving them for many generations to come,” per a statement from her team.

If you want some Mama Duck merch to wear while you visit her, there’s an impressive section of Duck Gear online, including dangly duck earrings, a onesie reading “world’s cutest duckling,” and a T-shirt that says “big duck energy.” 

* This article was originally published here

It’ll soon be leaf peeping season, and what better way to admire fall’s colorful foliage than with a train ride–especially when you can get your hands on a discounted ticket?! If we’ve piqued your interest you’ll be happy to know Amtrak is hosting their Fall Travel Flash Sale, offering riders at least 30% off trips to major cities across the country.

Amtrak often runs similar deals, however they usually only last about a week. So we’re thrilled to have another chance at booking a trip at an incredible rate. Plus we’re so ready to leave this suffocating summer heat behind us and jump head first into autumn!

The Fall Travel Flash Sale is the perfect way to give yourself the chance to explore a major U.S. city without needing a car. It’s connecting cities like New York, Boston, New Haven, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, and Chicago.

Passengers must book on the Amtrak Coach or Acela Business Class, North America’s only high-speed train! And though it’s not as fast as the proposed Northeast Maglev, which would travel at speeds of 311 mph, the Acela trains travel at speeds as fast as 150 mph.

Amtrak Coach and Acela Business Class offers spacious, reclining seats with plenty of legroom and no dreaded middle seats.

Fares for the Fall Travel Flash Sale out of NYC are as low as the following (Amtrak Coach/Business Class):

• New York to Washington D.C. – $55 / $109
• New York to Savannah, GA – $93 (Amtrak Coach)

The reduced fares apply to trips booked between Thursday, August 1 through Wednesday, August 7 for travel between Wednesday, August 14 and Thursday, October 31, 2024, with no blackout dates.

Book your trip today on the Amtrak website!

The post Amtrak Rolls Out $55 Rides From NYC To Washington D.C. appeared first on Secret NYC.

* This article was originally published here

It seems like nowadays in New York, you can find a smoke shop on every other corner, many of which are capitalizing off the city’s increasingly liberal weed laws. But even though we’re going through a sort of pot renaissance, don’t be fooled: a lot of the businesses you might see are not legally registered and might actually be selling you bottom-shelf products. 

Yesterday, Mayor Eric Adams’ office announced that, in the past three months, his administration closed a total of 779 weed shops and issued 41,502 counts of violations as part of their effort to halt illegal stores from doing business. 

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The official plan is dubbed Operation Padlock to Protect, and it aims at “targeting the manufacturing, processing, and distribution networks of illegal cannabis suppliers across New York City.” The task force conducts operations in neighborhoods across every borough, including follow-up inspections. According to the NYC government website, the task force removed $8 million worth of illegal cannabis in recent times. 

“In the three months since launching Operation Padlock to Protect, our administration has delivered major results on a major quality of life and public safety issue,” said Mayor Adams in an official statement. “For too long, illegal shops have contributed to a feeling that anything goes on our streets, while targeting our most vulnerable—including children—with dangerous, counterfeit products marketed as candy. But today, we are celebrating that this is no longer being tolerated and we are making huge gains to protect communities and usher in a legal cannabis market that will thrive.”

How can you tell if a cannabis shop is legit? Licensed dispensaries have to post a New York State Licensed Cannabis Dispensary decal, which looks like this, on or near their main entrance. If a store is unlicensed, it’s likely it is selling products that aren’t thoroughly vetted, regulated or deemed safe by a trusted authority for recreational use. 

In recent years, synthetic marijuana products sold by unlicensed weed stores have become a real issue. Usually, the items are produced in labs and packaged as K2, Scooby Snax, Bizarro or Spice, according to the Department of Behavioral Health. They may boast a mix of chemicals that are not safe to take together and, in extreme cases, could even lead to death. 

If you want a list of trusted dispensaries in New York City, make sure to check out our guide to the best licensed weed dealers in the city. 

* This article was originally published here