The world of made-to-measure clothing is steeped in tradition. Many contemporary customs regarding suiting—from button placement and color to fabric choices—have been in place for centuries. While that continuity lends a certain timelessness to the industry it also makes it ripe for innovation. Local atelier Watson Ellis is seizing that opportunity.
After working in the male-dominated business for over a decade, Melissa Watson Ellis realized there was a glaring lack of custom suit companies catering equally to women, men and nonbinary individuals. She launched her bespoke NYC atelier to reach that untapped market. “I definitely saw that the industry was missing a huge group of people,” says Watson Ellis.
At a light-filled atelier on the corner of 8th Avenue and 14th Street, Watson Ellis offers handmade suiting in three options: custom, bespoke and one-of-a-kind original designs. (The difference between the first two is an extra muslin fitting.) First, however, she had to overcome a pretty big obstacle: the lack of suiting templates for cis female bodies.
“There wasn’t a template,” says Watson Ellis. “So I based the middle size off of my own body and then graded up and down from there. What else did I have to work with?”
Along with a personalized and inclusive approach to her work with clients, Watson Ellis prioritizes sustainability in her approach—sourcing fabrics from ethical mills across Italy, France and the U.K. The atelier also offers one of the widest ranges of vegan fabrics in New York. Shirts start at $300 while suits cost an average of $2,200.
Currently, Watson Ellis says her diverse clientele visits the atelier for many reasons. Some want to create custom garments for important days—weddings, premieres, red carpets and openings—while others are looking for day-to-day power suiting. No matter the end goal, she prioritizes a progressive approach to styling as well as construction.
“I always ask a few questions when we start out to see what someone’s vibe is and what they need a suit for,” says Watson Ellis. “Then, I try to push them in a direction that I think would be good for their eyes, hair and skin tone. We always try to push people to do something a little more interesting. Trust us! Don’t be afraid! But we also want to respect someone who’s not comfortable doing a green suit. That’s fine! We can still do the blue and gray.”
At the end of the day, Watson Ellis says her Manhattan atelier has one common goal: “I just want to make you look cool. I want to make a suit how you want it.”
We’ve seen time and time again heavy rain to bring substantial flooding to NYC–these photos and videos blew our minds back in September of last year–and NYC officials have just unveiled their plan to combat flooding: porous pavement.
The NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Department of Design and Construction (DDC) have announced that “work is underway to install seven miles of porous pavement along area roadways to help better manage stormwater and reduce flooding and sewer overflows,” according to a press release.
Unlike traditional asphalt, porous pavement allows stormwater to pass through and be absorbed naturally into the ground. This means that stormwater drains that lead into the sewer system aren’t as necessary, which in turn will help prevent flooding, sewer backups into homes and businesses, and overflows into waterways.
Source / NYC Water
The porous pavement, which can withstand the weight of motor vehicles, will be installed along street curb lines where stormwater typically drains. It can prevent millions of gallons of stormwater from overwhelming the sewer system annually.
And though several different types of porous pavement have been tested throughout the years around NYC, this will be the first large-scale implementation. Plus, NYC Department of Design and Construction Commissioner Thomas Foley stated that the pavements are “only one way DDC is implementing green infrastructure across the city to combat the effects of climate change and reduce flooding in our communities.”
NYC Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala stated:
Climate change is bringing with it rainstorms that can overwhelm our sewers and cause flooding across the five boroughs, which is why we are investing in tools that will divert rainwater away from the sewer system, such as porous pavement. Brooklyn got hit particularly hard by Tropical Storm Ophelia last September and this new porous pavement will help to ease pressure on the sewer system and protect residents during future storms.
Source / NYC Water
The porous pavement is currently being installed in South Brooklyn with construction anticipated to be completed in the fall of 2025.
Contracts are expected to get under way later this year to bring porous pavement to other Brooklyn neighborhoods, as well as to communities in the Bronx. Additional contracts are currently in planning for neighborhoods in Queens.
In the rush of everyday life as busy New Yorkers, it’s all too easy to lose sight of each other’s humanity. And, as much as we might irritate each other on hot, crowded subway platforms, we all ultimately share a desire to connect and make something of ourselves in this chaotic city.
That shared connectedness is exactly what a new immersive installation at the World Trade Center hopes to remind us of by displaying thousands of anonymous hand written stories collected from all sorts of people.
The exhibition, called The Strangers Project, will be set up inside the South Concourse of the Oculus at the World Trade Center Thursdays through Sundays from 2pm until 7pm for an indefinite period of time.
The Strangers Project has been around since 2009 and was created by Brooklyn-based artist Brandon Doman, who has traveled around the country to exhibit the heartfelt notes.
Each note contains a true story by a stranger, ranging from hilarious tales to inspiring anecdotes and downright heartbreaking recountings. In the 15 years since the project started, Doman has collected more than 95,000 stories and allowed thousands of strangers to empathize with each other without ever meeting.
If you’ve seen the project before around the city, that’s because the exhibition has hopped around some of the most iconic public spaces, including Washington Square Park, where it lived for several years.
Now, the Oculus has given the exhibit a new home for the foreseeable future—and it feels like the perfect spot, considering it is a transit hub that brings together people from different parts of the city and New Jersey.
The best part of the exhibit, of course, is that it’s ongoing and ever growing. That means that if you’re up for it and want to vent to a stranger, you can leave your own note too, adding to this iconic archive of urban life that we’re pretty sure will continue to inspire New Yorkers for decades to come.
Everyone knows about the Met and the MOMA but what about some of New York’s lesser known museums? It can be a little overwhelming at times to figure out which of NYC’s great museums or art exhibitions to pay a visit too, but how about the ones you may not even know about!
Check out this list of 15 lesser-known museums that have been elevating culture in the city for years. Performance art? Got it. Japanese sculpture? Got it. After leaving these places, you’ll basically be the artsiest person you know.
1. The Rubin Museum of Art
Source / Ben Hider
The Rubin Museum’s unique focus on Himalayan art, ideas, and cultures from the Tibetan Plateau makes this museum unique in its own right. Their Chelsea museum boasts an impressive collection of art, including sculptures, textiles, and ritual objects, along with thought-provoking exhibitions and programs often relating to philosophy and “the shared human experience.” Some of our favorite parts of their permanent collection include The Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room and a new interactive space for social and emotional learning called the Mandala Lab.
Where: 150 W 17th St
2. Noguchi Museum
Source / Nicholas Knight
The Noguchi Museum in Long Island City has been open since the 1980’s and works to advance the understanding and appreciation of the art of Japanese-American artist Isamu Noguchi. A combination of permanent and temporary exhibitions as well as a slew of live programs are on throughout the year.
For fans of the mysterious street artist Banksy, this hole-in-the-wall museum is dedicated to the creative genius behind famous works like “Flower Thrower” and “Girl With Balloon.” The 15,000 square foot space is full of over 160 different Banksy-inspired works, immersions, and projections by other artists paying homage to the world’s legendary visionary. Tickets start at only $30 and it’s located right in the heart of SoHo! Read more about the Banksy Museum here.
The Museum of the Moving Image in Queens is one of the most underrated museums in the city. Their mission is to “advance the understanding, enjoyment, and appreciation of the art, history, technique, and technology of film, television, and digital media” and they do so by presenting exhibitions and programs related to moving-image arts. The museum also screens more than 400 classic and contemporary films every year.
Where: 36-01 35 Avenue, Astoria, Queens
5. Museum of the City of New York
Source / Museum of the City of New York
The focus at the Museum of the City of New York is to highlight and learn about urban life in NYC from the past, present and future. Exhibitions range from scientific expos to photography to sociological explorations of protest and activism in the city. You can really learn a lot here and because the exhibitions cover so many different themes, there’s bound to be something for everybody’s taste.
Where: 1220 Fifth Ave at 103rd St
6. El Museo del Barrio
Source / El Museo del Barrio
El Museo del Barrio was founded over 50 years ago by a coalition of Puerto Rican and other Latino artists, community members, parents and educators. Their goal is to collect, preserve, exhibit and interpret the art and artifacts of Caribbean and Latin American cultures for the future. Their permanent collection is home to over 6,500 objects while their temporary exhibits focus on a range of themes.
Where: 1230 5th Ave
7. Hispanic Society of America
Facebook / The Hispanic Society Museum & Library
The Hispanic Society Museum and Library is actually thehidden gem of Upper Manhattan. Tucked away right off Riverside Drive, this research institute boasts some of the most impressive works of Spanish and Portuguese art in the entire country. The museum is free to visit and you can even attend complimentary tours with an educator on Fridays and Saturdays at 2 pm.
Where: 613 W 155th St
8. American Folk Art Museum
Source / American Folk Art Museum
The American Folk Art Museum is devoted to the appreciation and preservation of traditional folk art and contemporary self-taught artists. A vast permanent collection includes photographs, furniture, textiles and sculpture while temporary exhibits showcase a breadth of lesser known craft and folk artists.
Where: 2 Lincoln Square between 65th and 66th
9. New York Transit Museum
Source / Marc Glucksman
The New York Transit Museum dates back to 1976, and is an homage to the history of public transportation in our city. Visitors of the museum can take a walk through the story of mass transportation…via boarding vintage subway cars, sitting at the wheel of a city bus, stepping through old turnstiles, and exploring its rotating exhibits. The coolest part? It’s literally housed in an underground 1936 subway station in Downtown Brooklyn!
Mmuseumm is definitely the most hipster of the museums on this list. According to their mission statement, they are “dedicated to exploring modern humanity and current events through objects from around the world.” Some of the objects on display are the types of things most people go their whole lives without thinking much about (for instance the bread clip that closes the bag of Wonderbread) but, the presentation and explanation of it all makes it quite interesting. That and the fact that the space is so inconspicuous you might just pass it right by.
Where: 4 Cortlandt Alley
11. Museum of Chinese In America
Source / Maya Lin Studio & MOCA
The MOCA was founded in 1980 and focuses on the experiences of people of Chinese descent in the United States. Among some of the interesting things going on at this museum are a ton of exhibits and multimedia productions as well as festivals, workshops, conferences and resources on Chinese-American history.
Where: 215 Centre St
12. The Louis Armstrong House Museum
Source / Albert Cercerka & Esto
Dedicated to the iconic jazz superstar Louis Armstrong, this house and museum in Corona, Queens is an homage to the musician offering an intimate look into this life. Visitors can explore his preserved home, complete with original furnishings and personal artifacts like archival recordings, personal photographs, and memorabilia. Plus, you can take guided tours of the space to learn more about his life and music, as well as explore tons of rotating exhibits, educational programs, and special events in its serene garden! Learn more about The Louis Armstrong House Museum here!
Get up close and personal with Broadway history here, as you can see all kinds of memorabilia from international artists, designers, and theater historians. The interactive experience shows off all sorts of spectacular costumes, props, renderings, rare photos, videos, and more that have never been seen before! The Museum of Broadway is truly a Broadway fans’ wildest dreams come true…and it’s only steps away from the Theater District too!
The Society of Illustrators was founded back in 1901, and here you can check out year-round illustration-themed exhibits as well as art education programs. The permanent collection is expansive, it houses over 2,500 pieces that are displayed periodically. In 2012, the Museum created the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art Gallery with a focus on curated exhibits of this type of illustration.
Where: 128 E 63rd St
15. Museum of Food and Drink (MOFAD)
Source / Museum of Food and Drink
The Museum of Food and Drink brings food and the processes behind it to life at this space in Brooklyn. At the moment, they have one exhibition- Flavor– on view, which is a “sensory journey through our bodies and our world, designed and curated by food scientists and culinary anthropologists.” It’s a neat way to taste, touch, and smell your way through the world of food and drink.
We know we sound like a broken record when complaining about the incessant heat around here, but real-feel temperatures topped 100 degrees yesterday, so forgive us for not being able to talk about anything but the weather these days.
Alas, respite is headed our way: according to the New York Post, a cold front will move into the New York region on Thursday, “causing temperatures to drop to the mid-to-low 80s just ahead of the weekend.”
Singing victory while dealing with still-freaking-hot 80-degree weather sounds absolutely insane but here we are, living in New York in the summer. Even small victories get us giddy with excitement.
Both Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams have been warning New Yorkers about the various heat waves throughout the past few weeks, urging all to make use of the cooling centers now open throughout the city and, perhaps, considering applying for a free air conditioning unit to be installed inside their homes.
In addition to the insane temperatures, some New York residents have had to deal with severe thunderstorms that even spurred the governor to declare a state of emergency.
“With possible tornado touchdowns across the state, we are standing ready to assist localities however necessary as severe weather continues to move across the state,” Hochul said in an official statement yesterday in response to severe weather impacting communities in Central New York and the Mohawk Valley. “New Yorkers should be sure to monitor their local forecasts and prepare for hazardous travel and other impacts from these storms.”
