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In a city overflowing with mid-to-low-grade dispensaries, Gotham, the women-founded cannabis and concept store, has stood out for its youthful branding and top-shelf products.

The beloved Manhattan dispensary recently announced plans to open a new location at The Refinery at Domino, the site of the former Domino Sugar Factory that’s now a waterfront mixed use building near the Williamsburg Bridge.

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The new Gotham store will be the brand’s second location, this one occupying a 4,000 square-foot space on the ground floor of the 15-story building. The owners signed a 10-year lease for the address, per the Commercial Observer, that is set to open in the fall. 

The first Gotham dispensary opened at 3 East 3rd Street in Manhattan last May and has since upheld its reputation as a community-forward business. The Manhattan store partners with STRIVE New York, an organization that seeks to empower Black and brown communities that have been disproportionately affected by anti-cannabis laws. 

In addition to its wide selection of cannabis, THC and CBD products, Gotham also sells well-liked lifestyle-adjacent items, like the colorful blue and lilac Murano Sommerso ashtray and customized clothing. 

“We’re delighted to welcome Gotham to The Refinery and support their expansion into Brooklyn, where they’ll continue to elevate and disrupt the cannabis industry,” said Bonnie Campbell, principal at Two Trees Management, the landlord company for The Refinery at Domino. “This innovative ethos seamlessly aligns with our approach to The Refinery, which redefines the traditional office and thoughtfully merges lifestyle, community and culture.”

Gotham is going to share The Refinery at Domino with offices and other lifestyle businesses, including Equinox, which signed a deal in 2023 to open a gym on the ground floor.

For updates on the exact opening date, keep an eye on Gotham’s website. 

* This article was originally published here

For the second time this summer, the Chinatown Night Market will return with beloved vendors serving up banh mi, tea, sugarcane juice, and lots more. It’s back on Friday, July 26 from 8-11:45pm at the gateway of Manhattan Bridge at Forsyth Plaza and Forsyth Street.

The Chinatown Night Market began in 2021, and this year we are seeing it as a three-part series; this will be its second appearance. The night market brings a lot more than just delicious food to the playing field, as it also acts as a celebration of Chinese culture and community with its performances and art. 

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“Chinatown Night Market is much more than just a street fair. It’s a stake in the ground to proudly claim space for our community in the face of encroaching gentrification,” said Yin Kong, the director of Think!Chinatown, which runs the event.

Food vendors include an array of Chinatown favorites, including Bánh Mì Cô Út, Grand Tea & Imports, Sugarcane Daddy, Kabisera, Mrs. Jiang’s Sweet Soups, Whistle & Fizz and Pho Master. 

On top of the food, the night market will see a number of Chinese dance performances from the New York Chinese Culture Centre (a.k.a. NYCCC). This non-profit cultural and educational institution was created in 1974, and it seeks to celebrate and understand Chinese culture through arts in a variety of communities. The NYCCC performances can be seen on the upper plaza throughout the night at 8:45, 9:45 and 10:45 pm, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled for these. In addition to the dances, Think!Chinatown’s resident DJ, DJ YiuYiu 瑤瑤, will provide the backing track of the evening. 

“It’s a stake in the ground to proudly claim space for our community in the face of encroaching gentrification.”

The night market also has available art for purchase. These folk arts range from dough figurines by Xun Ye to framed calligraphy by Mr Huanh Jianting and many others like Braided Straw Figurines by Meifang Shi and Sugar Paintings by Yan Sui. So not only can you leave the market with a stuffed belly but also a souvenir of your evening and experience. 

The Chinatown Night Market began as a pandemic recovery program to get business flowing in the area again. The market has also activated an under-used public plaza to create a safe and culturally relevant space for the community. 

* This article was originally published here

Some paintings have the power to make art come alive, but a new activation this week will truly make brushstrokes jump off the canvas. 

In honor of the late American painter Edward Hopper’s birthday (he would be 142 years old!), the Meatpacking District is hosting a series of 3-D interactive painting installations that you can become a part of. The free event, titled “Step Into Hopper” pays homage to three of the artist’s renowned works from July 19 through July 22 in Gansevoort Plaza (38 Gansevoort St.)

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In this first-of-its-kind event, see life-size re-creations of “Nighthawks,” “Soir Bleu,” and “Early Sunday Morning.” You’ll be able to pose with these recognizable works and create your own interpretations of the art with the help of live performers. Activities begin at 1pm on Friday, July 19, then run all day Saturday-Monday, before wrapping up at 5pm on Tuesday, July 23.

The activation, hosted by Meatpacking BID, was created in partnership with The Whitney Museum of American Art, which is home to the most Edward Hopper works of any museum worldwide. The museum celebrates the artist’s July 22 birthday every year as a tribute to his impact on American art. Hopper was one of the most prominent realist painters of 20th-century America and is widely known for his depictions of the urban and rural American experience. 

Here’s what to expect this weekend

Nighthawks

Take a seat inside Hopper’s iconic diner scene, complete with a live barista serving coffee from a neighborhood vendor on Saturday, July 20 and Sunday, July 21, from 11am onward while supplies last.

Soir Bleu

Transporting visitors into Hopper’s introspective take on French café culture, a clown performer will be present on Friday, July 19, Saturday, July 20 and Sunday, July 21 to set the scene. 

Early Sunday Morning

Step off the bustling streets of present-day New York City and into the stillness of this portrait of Seventh Avenue in the 1930s all weekend.

More Hopper Celebrations

If you want to see the original paintings of “Soir Bleu” and “Early Sunday Morning,” head to the Whitney where they’re currently on view. After viewing his art at the Whitney, you can make some art of your own and even explore a map showing NYC spots he painted.

For the more athletic art lovers, there’s even a 60-mile round-trip bike ride from the Whitney Museum to the Hopper House in Nyack.

* This article was originally published here

One of our favorite spots for live music, Arlene’s Grocery, is welcoming back its live band karaoke nights, ensuring your summer is about to get even better.

While the sing-along events have been happening sporadically throughout the year, they’ll now be in full force during a summer residency. The beloved bodega-turned-venue will step away from its typical concert schedule to provide these karaoke nights every Tuesday.

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Emcee and musician Leslie Goshko will host each karaoke night with the new Arlene’s Grocery band, which also features Lucas Shine, Matthew Lindsey and Alan Camlet, who will provide the setlist for attendees to sing their hearts out to. The pop stars (a.k.a. the audience) can choose from an extensive song list, which includes over 200 songs from all genres. Each night fresh tracks are added to the band’s ever-growing discography.

“There is anything from Frank Sinatra to Olivia Rodrigo,” says Goshko.

She says that unlike the more daunting karaoke situations, (i.e. when you’re in a room of strangers staring at you) Arlene’s Grocery offers “safe space karaoke.”

Goshko has quite the attachment to karaoke. I mean, who can blame her? Doesn’t everyone love a sing-along? She hosts two other nights of karaoke at Good Judy in Brooklyn, which are on Thursdays and Saturdays with free entry.  

Arlene’s Grocery opens its doors to all future rock stars every Tuesday at 7pm with the performances happening from 8pm until 11pm. The event is 21+ so feel free to leave the little ones at home and sing to your heart’s content.

The tickets are $10 which you can buy here. But they are also available to purchase at the door. 

* This article was originally published here

The Perseid meteor shower isn’t the only thing lighting up the sky this month–a dazzling canopy of colorful lanterns are now lighting up Broadway in the Garment District, and New Yorkers can stroll beneath them!

The dazzling display is part of the Garment District Alliance’s (GDA) latest public art installation, New Start, New Hope.

Created by local artist Xin Song, the installation brings light–both literally and figuratively–to the Broadway plazas in the heart of Midtown by way of 135 colorful lanterns.

Song, who currently resides in Brooklyn, drew from her personal experience working in the Garment District during the pandemic to create the exhibition. She graduated from the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing in 1994 and has since had works exhibited across the world in venues such as the Venice Biennial, Musée du Louvre in Paris, National Art Museum of China, and the Paper Art Biennial in Bulgaria.

New Start, New Hope features 135 suspended lanterns with twelve unique designs that light up in a variety of colors.

The exhibition serves as a beacon for an optimistic future and invites city-goers to pause and revel in a moment of tranquil reflection amidst the city’s craziness.

Barbara A. Blair, president of the Garment District Alliance, stated:

We are delighted to showcase Xin Song’s radiant lanterns in our neighborhood. Xin’s captivating creations not only brighten our plazas, but also demonstrate the power of public art in bringing our community spaces to life. We encourage all to visit and find a moment of calm in their day-to-day routines by visiting this installation.

Broadway plazas in the Garment District between 36th and 39th Streets

Now through January 2025

The post Stroll Beneath A Dazzling Canopy Of 100+ Colorful Lanterns Lighting Up The Garment District appeared first on Secret NYC.

* This article was originally published here

If your weekly grocery run includes a trip to Stop & Shop at 2965 Cropsey Avenue in Coney Island, you might want to rethink your route: the Brooklyn store will officially close by November 2 alongside over 30 other “underperforming” destinations across the Northeast U.S.

The company has announced the shuttering of six other New York-area stores as well, four on Long Island and others in Westchester and Rockland counties.

“[We’re focusing on] delivering lower everyday prices and strong promotions,” the company said in an official statement last Friday, also mentioning that employees at the affected store locations will be offered positions within the company. 

As of now, the Brooklyn Stop & Shop destinations at 1710 Avenue Y and 625 Atlantic Avenue will remain open.

The news isn’t necessarily surprising: Ahold Delhaize, the Dutch company that owns the chain, had already expressed interest in closing some Stop & Shop locations back in May.

Competition with discount chains like Lidl and other grocery giants (Whole Foods! Costco!) have also undoubtedly affected the company’s decision. 

Alas, Brooklynites still have a few months to shop at the Coney Island location but, perhaps, it’s time to look for a new grocery destination.

Below is a list of the 32 Stop & Shop stores that will close by November 2 around the country:

New York

2965 Cropsey Avenue, Brooklyn

130 Wheatley Plaza, Greenvale

7 Samsondale Plaza, West Haverstraw

294 Middle Country Road, Coram

240 East Sanford Boulevard, Mt. Vernon

132 Fulton Avenue, Hempstead

2525 Hempstead Turnpike, East Meadow

New Jersey

1083 Inman Avenue, Edison

1049 US Highway 1 South, Edison

4861 US Highway 9, Howell

1278 US Highway 22, Phillipsburg

581 Stelton Road, Piscataway

625 Paterson Avenue, Carlstadt

1221 State Route 27, Franklin Township

130 Skyline Drrive, Ringwood

505 Richmond Avenue, Point Pleasant Beach

2275 West County Line Road, Jackson

Connecticut

100 Division Street, Ansonia

211 High Street, Torrington (931 Torringford Street, Torrington will remain open)

1937 West Main Street, Stamford (2200 Bedford Street, Stamford will remain open)

855 Bridgeport Ave., Milford (1360 East Town Road, Milford will remain open)

72 Newtown Road, Danbury (44 Lake Avenue Ext., Danbury will remain open)

Massachusetts

932 North Montello Street, Brockton

36 New State Highway, Raynham

341 Plymouth Street, Halifax

539-571 Boston Turnpike, Shrewsbury

165 Needham Street, Newton (bfresh Market)

415 Cooley Street, Springfield (1600 Boston Rd. and 1277 Liberty St., Springfield will remain open)

545 Lincoln Street Worcester (940 West Boylston St. and 949 Grafton St., Worcester will remain open)

24 Mattakeesett Street, Pembroke (125 Church St., Pembroke will remain open)

Rhode Island

11 Commerce Way, Johnston

176 Pittman Street, Providence (Eastside Marketplace)

* This article was originally published here

The Upper East Side is known for its high-end hotels—The St. Regis and The Carlyle, for instance—but it’s about to get another swanky stay: The Surrey.

Opening just one block from Central Park at 20 East 76th Street, The Surrey will begin hosting stays on September 1. 

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The property first opened as a hotel in 1926, hosting all kinds of celebrities and world leaders within its walls, and has been undergoing a massive renovation by Corinthia Hotels and the Reuben Brothers. It will be Corinthia Hotels’ first venture into North America.

“The addition of this property represents a significant milestone for Corinthia Hotels & we are both proud and grateful for our partnership with the Reuben Brothers whose vision has made this possible. This much-anticipated opening allows us to bring to New York our commitment to luxury, elegance, and exceptional service with the brand’s first property in North America. We look forward to welcoming guests to experience the timeless charm and refined sophistication of The Surrey, an iconic Upper East Side establishment.”

The new Surrey will feature 70 guest rooms and 30 suites designed by Martin Brudnizki Design Studio, including four themed suites inspired by Central Park’s bridges. You can choose from the smallest room, the Junior Suite, the Grand Deluxe Suite with Madison Avenue views, and the Bethesda Suite, which is the biggest—a one-bedroom “haven” on the 8th floor. 

Art within the hotel will be curated by Paris-based VISTO Galley and showcase works from established and emerging New York City artists.

The hotel will also have its own spa, The Surrey Spa, featuring Sisley Paris products with two treatment rooms, a steam room and sauna, a “sensorial” shower, a salt relaxation room and a fitness center.

Even cooler, the hotel will be home to a new restaurant and lounge called Casa Tua and an exclusive, members-only space called the Club. According to its website, Casa Tua, which has locations in Miami, Aspen and Paris, will serve Italian and Mediterranean cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner when it opens this summer. The lounge will serve coffee and cocktails.

The hotel is already open for booking at corinthia.com/the-surrey.

* This article was originally published here