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More than 200 languages are spoken in New York City, from Tagalog and Bengali to Haitian, Greek and Igbo. But New Yorkers, no matter their roots, tend to share some of the same vocabulary. 

A lengthy Reddit thread in the AskNYC subreddit asked people to share common words and phrases that originated from New York City. Some have identifiable community heritage origins, Redditors explained. There’s hip-hop’s “bling” or “son”; “mensch” and “schlep” from Yiddish; and “cojones” and “mami” from Puerto Rican Spanish. But other words are descended directly from the city itself and the way we live in it. While some of these phrases have spread more widely, others remain New York-isms. How many of these words do you say?

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A quick caveat before we dive in: We should note that this list is sourced from the Reddit community. While we did our best to confirm the accuracy of each word and its definition, take this all with a grain of salt. 

1. YERRRRRR!

Definition: Basically a version of “what’s up.” Ideally, if you hear a “yerrr,” you’re responding back with an even louder “yerrr.” As one Redditor said: “If you run for mayor on a ‘no yerrr unanswered’ platform I’ll go vote right now.” Note: It’s sometimes styled as yurrr.

2. Up the river

Definition: The phrase refers to being sent “up the river” from New York City’s courthouses to Sing Sing Prison. Hudson Valley Magazine has even more fascinating history about Sing Sing to read up on. 

3. Buggin’

Definition: If you’re buggin’, you’re being annoying, tripping or freaking out, Daily Rap Facts explains. 

4. Brick

Definition: It’s cold out! One theory, per the USC Folklore Archives, says it could come from the feeling of brick buildings being extra cold to touch. 

5. Glitch

Definition: A malfunction or problem. Some say it comes from the Yiddish word “glitsh” meaning “slip” or “lapse.” One Redditor claims the word was first “used by Yiddish-speaking folks working in radio broadcasting in New York in 20s and 30s (it seems this was a popular industry for young Jewish people at the time) as in ‘on air slip-up.’ In the 50s the term followed over to broadcasting, and then made its way over to computing.”

National Public Radio reported that the word came into the vernacular in the 1960s and ’70s, particularly related to space travel.   

6. 86’d

Definition: The phrase can indicate a restaurant being out of a certain product or someone being bounced/banned from an establishment. There are a ton of possible origins of this one (and St. Louis magazine lays them all out), but our favorite comes from a speakeasy called Chumley’s in Greenwich Village at 86 Bedford Street. “When the heat showed up, guests were known to 86 it, or remove themselves from the premises immediately,” the magazine reports. 

7. Deadass

Definition: Seriously or in all seriousness. The word is said to have started in New York City, but it’s now heard around the nation. As one Redditor wrote, “lots of slang that Gen Z co-opted today originates from black and brown NYC culture. We are the most imitated people on the planet.”

8. Gridlock

Definition: A traffic jam. More specifically, the word indicates “a traffic jam in which a grid of intersecting streets is so completely congested that no vehicular movement is possible,” per Merriam-Webster. In common parlance, the word dates back to 1980 amid a transit strike in NYC, though apparently urban planners were using it before then.

The word is now often used to describe partisan fights/blockages in governance—even sometimes about gridlock itself!  

9. Fuhgeddaboudit

Definition: Technically, it’s forget about it, but it has more of a sassy connotation. For example, as the Daily News once wrote: “So you think you’ll have enough money to retire? Fuhgeddaboudit!”  

10. Jonesing 

Definition: Craving deeply. It’s said to originate from the drug scene. One story says that Jones Alley in Manhattan was a hub for heroin users, per Dictionary.com. Others say the roots of the phrase hail from Great Jones Street, a few steps away from Jones Alley. 

11. You good. (?)(!)(?!)

Definition: Ah, there are so many. Depending on the intonation, this can mean everything from “are you OK?” to “don’t worry about it.” 

12. Stoop  

Definition: A porch or staircase out front of an apartment building, especially brownstones and tenements. It comes from the Dutch word “stoep,” meaning “stair,” according to New-York Historical Society. 

* This article was originally published here

Tranquility in New York City: some would say it’s an oxymoron, but OASES, a new wellness collective opening this month, is making the pairing possible.

The new wellness center is opening in two phases: First, on August 16, it will debut its all-day Café and Bazaar, and following closely behind, its full-service restaurant and bar with an adjacent private dining and event space called The Tara Room. 

Located in the heart of Chelsea, OASES is a new wellness collective that targets wellness enthusiasts and beginners alike. The collective is made up of multiple unique spaces all rooted in the Ayurvedic principles of balance and harmony. Sonam Sangmo, the founder, draws on her Himalayan and Buddhist upbringing in India, as well as her background in luxury fashion design, to envision and curate each of these spaces. 

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One of the goals of OASES is to engage all five senses in a space that is “rooted in ethical, mindful, and informed consumption.” In the bustling city of New York, Sangmo hopes to mimic the sensation of entering a friend’s home, providing guests with a warm and safe environment that promotes balance and rejuvenation, she says.

The sanctuary spans 4,755 feet and melds together contemporary aesthetics, ancient influences, soft curves, calming colors, abundant greenery and purifying water elements to create such a peaceful sanctuary that promises to help you forget you’re still in NYC. 

The café at OASES offers in-house dining and grab-and-go bites made of fresh and seasonal ingredients. The café is smack dab in the middle of the OASES vegetable garden and offers guests breakfast, lunch and beverage options. Dishes include OASES’ Signature Pancakes, superfood acai bowls and organic smoothies, alongside matcha and teas from all across the globe. The OASES Restaurant, Bar and Tara Room opens shortly after the café and serves natural wines, cocktails, and nourishing plates.  

OASES Bazaar, which is located next to the Café, is a shop selling eco-conscious and quality products: Organic Pantry (oils, honey, etc.), Health & Wellness (natural supplements for sleep and immunity), Clean Beauty & Body care (skincare and soaps), Homey Wellness (essential oils and incense) and Creative Wellness (ceramics and tableware). It’ll also have OASES branded tote bags and an editorial-style wall displaying each new collection.

OASES invites guests on a “journey of discovery, self-care, and ethical enrichment” at its location on West 14th Street. 

* This article was originally published here

Believe it or not, Queens, a borough that over two million people call home, didn’t have a public animal shelter until today. Twenty years after construction plans began, a brand new 50,000-square-foot state-of-the-art animal shelter just opened in Ridgewood.

The Ridgewood Animal Care Centers location is located at 1906 Flushing Avenue and can house 72 dogs and 110 cats at a time, according to The City. There’s also an area dedicated to keeping smaller pets like guinea pigs and another featuring grass for rabbits. 

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The new shelter is part of the Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC), an organization that already has locations across Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island. The ACC is also known for its pop-up adoption trucks, which tend to attract long lines. 

The animal shelter system in New York is currently experiencing a serious overcrowding problem, partially a result of people giving up their pandemic-era pets, according to The City. The $75 million city-funded shelter will help lessen the burden of the already strained shelter in Manhattan, especially following the temporary closure of the ACC’s Brooklyn location for renovations, which are set to be completed by 2026. The ACC plans to open even more shelters across the city in the next few years.

The new Ridgewood shelter looks pretty impressive, like a boujee boarding school for animals. 

The space features an area with glass kennels covered by a retractable glass roof, allowing dogs to get some sun and fresh air, weather permitting. There’s also a spacious dog run with faux grass on the facility’s roof and services like adoption counseling and, eventually, vet services, according to Gothamist.  

If you can’t adopt now but would like to get involved, the shelter is currently looking for people to help staff the new Queens shelter.  

The Queens shelter will be open for adoptions Monday through Friday from 12pm until 6pm and Saturdays and Sundays from 11am until 5pm. You can visit the shelter’s website for more information and to take a look at some of the cuties up for adoption right now.

* This article was originally published here

Looking for the perfect little summer escape with your kids? Head to one of NYC’s amazing nearby kid-friendly beaches which are serene and clean oases that are safe for families of all ages and sizes! From the lively boardwalks of Coney Island to the serene sands of Orchard Beach, these family-friendly beaches are a good spot to soak up the sun, splash around in the waves, and build sandcastles for hours on end!

Bookmark these kid-friendly options for your next NYC day trip getaway:

1. Jones Beach

Just outside of New York City you’ll find Jones Beach, a family-friendly spot along the Atlantic Ocean that stretches a little over 6 miles. Its wide sandy beaches and on-duty lifeguards make it a safe spot to bring the kiddos, and its other attractions make it more of a coastal destination than just a regular old beach.

Sure, they’ll be able to build sandcastles and play beach games, but the real fun happens afterward at the Central Mall Area where there’s an awesome boardwalk and playground. Or, stop by the Jones Beach Nature Center to see some interactive and educational exhibits, hit the West Bathhouse Pool to swim, or play mini golf with the family. There’s so much to do around Jones Beach.

2. Coney Island Beach

Coney Island Beach truly has it all, from true sandy beaches to family attractions. Of course its shore is great for toddlers and kids to play and build sandcastles, but the boardwalk and surrounding area is equally attractive. The nearby Luna Park has dozens of amusement park rides and games to partake in (we’re looking at you Cyclone and Wonder Wheel), and it’s only steps away from the world famous Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs stand. A piece of advice for Coney Island Beach is going early in the day because the shore can become packed with people as the day goes on, especially on weekends!

3. Rockaway Beach

Rockaway Beach is one of our favorite beaches in NYC in general, and it’s one of the best family-friendly ones…starting with the journey over. Hop aboard the NYC Ferry, where you can ride the open-air boat through the water with incredible breeze and splashes on the way, kids will surely love this. When you get there, you’ll be delighted to a massive 170 acre beach area, playgrounds, picnic areas, concession stands, and a whole lot more.

Our tip: bring them to the Beach 30th Street Playground for additional water fun if the beach isn’t really their thing.

4. Orchard Beach

This man-made beach in The Bronx sometimes known as “The Riviera of New York City” is a great spot to bring the little ones, thanks to its crescent-shaped beach and small waves. Hop on the subway to get there (it’s easy) and spend some hours on the cute sand beach, walking the promenade, and frolicking one of the two playgrounds. The views of the Long Island Sound are pretty great, the water is perfect for little ones, and there’s plenty of concession stands, sports courts, snack bars, changing areas and showers, and picnic spots. It’s also close to City Island, where you can take the kids for a tasty Italian meal after.

5. Jacob Riis Beach

Jacob Riis Beach is part of the Gateway National Recreation Area, which means it’s one of the most well kept beaches near NYC. There’s a decent boardwalk, playgrounds, picnics, and even a historic bathhouse to check out. We recommend taking the ferry from Manhattan’s Pier 11 and grabbing a bunch of snacks before you hit the beach, since the shore is a fair walk down from the boardwalk.

6. Sunken Meadows State Park

Sunken Meadows State Park is located on Long Island’s North Shore and is one of the best for families and children. The beach itself has sandy beaches and calm waters, and the 3/4 mile boardwalk and playgrounds provide hours of fun to be had. Plus, it’s also one of the most popular picnic spots in the area, as well as for families with teens, since there’s a nearby golf course too.

7. Midland Beach

Head over to Staten Island to find Midland Beach, which is a quaint little family-friendly beach just beyond the city. It’s home to lifeguard-supervised swimming areas, several well-maintained playgrounds, and interactive spray showers…making it a great place to bring kids. Let them splash around in The Sea Turtle Fountain and walk the Franklin D. Roosevelt Boardwalk, all while taking incredible views of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.

The post 7 Kid-Friendly Beaches Near NYC That Are Perfect For Families appeared first on Secret NYC.

* This article was originally published here

In case you haven’t heard, Whole Foods is shrinking—literally.

Earlier this year, the grocery giant announced that it was going to test out small “quick stop” stores targeting urban shoppers, and that it would name those stores Whole Foods Market Shop Daily. 

The first of the small format grocery stores will launch at 1175 Third Avenue by 69th Street in the Upper East Side in the fall. This week, the company announced the following lineup entry: a mini Whole Foods in Hell’s Kitchen. A third iteration of the shop will debut at a third undisclosed NYC location after that. 

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The Hell’s Kitchen mini Whole Foods will be located at 301 West 50th Street on Eighth Avenue, just a short walk from Times Square. Like the Upper East Side address, the Hell’s Kitchen store will host a Juice & Java, as well as a spot for coffee, tea, smoothies, dessert and other quick bites, per Eater.  

What should you expect from these miniature Whole Foods? Basically, they’ll be about a quarter to half the size of a regular Whole Foods and they will be stocked with classic fresh products that the regular store holds, as well as grab-and-go meals.

Just like the bigger shops, the mini Whole Foods will look sleek, polished and well organized, with lots of fresh produce, meat, seafood, bread and other staples. It seems like the biggest difference will be the convenience element, so you’ll no longer have to wander through an overwhelmingly large supermarket to look for the ingredients you need to make dinner.

“We’re tailoring every square foot to the unique, fast-paced needs of urban lifestyles. We’re excited to introduce a new way for our customers to quickly pick up their Whole Foods Market favorites,” Christina Minardi, Executive Vice President Growth & Development, Whole Foods Market & Amazon, said in an official statement. “Expanding our footprint with Whole Foods Market Daily Shop is key to our growth, fostering deeper customer connections, and advancing our purpose to nourish people and the planet.”

The Austin-based and Amazon-owned company now operates 17 locations across New York City, and their latest “mini” venture will likely make the brand even more ubiquitous to our lives in the city. If the mini Whole Foods prove to be a success in New York, they will eventually expand to other cities across the country. 

* This article was originally published here

Leave it up to Billy Idol to astound us using New York City as his backdrop over four decades since first landing on the global music scene.

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of his second studio album, Rebel Yell, arguably his first massive commercial success, the artist is releasing an expanded special deluxe edition of the work alongside a new music video that also features with his long-time lead guitarist Steve Stevens.

The clip was filmed on the 103rd floor of the Empire State Building back in April, using special drones and equipment that gave birth to a truly remarkable view of the NYC skyline.

“I believe the idea to shoot the video came from Billy’s team,” says Steven Gottlieb, the music video’s producer. “They came to me and said they wanted to film a performance at the top of the Empire State Building and they had a connection with a drone company that could help so it was sort of all pieced together nicely.” 

In the video, Idols and Stevens perform the track “Rebel Yell” on the landmark’s balcony, all the while clouds slowly surround the building. You’ll be forgiven if feeling a bit of vertigo while enjoying the five-minute performance through your screen.

“It almost feels unreal, as if it’s visual effects, but they’re not,” says Gottlieb. “It’s all real. It’s just an angle of the city that you almost never see. Everything that Billy does is larger than life and the Empire State Building is probably the most iconic tall building in the world so if you’re going to do something like this, this is where to do it.”

The producer also reveals that the entire shindig was filmed in one or two takes—particularly impressing given the high-stress conditions involved in the shoot, which took place more than 1,000 feet above the ground.

For what it’s worth, it sounds like Idol couldn’t picture it any other way.

“When I was little boy we lived in Long Island for a few years and my mom and dad took me to visit the Empire State Building, probably in 1959,” the artist reminisces. “Hard to fathom that 65 years later I’d be playing rock n roll on top of the building! Then and now the Empire State Building is an unrivaled jewel of Art Deco magic. A career highlight for sure!”

* This article was originally published here