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Not one but two meteor showers are heading to NYC this July to dazzle skywatchers, and as of July 14th the first one has arrived!

The Perseid meteor shower is one of the most dazzling showers of the year, and you won’t want to miss it. Here’s everything you need to know about the Perseid meteor shower:

What is the Perseid meteor shower?

The Perseid meteor shower (also known as the Perseids) is one of the best shooting star displays of the year with “swift and bright meteors frequently leav[ing] long ‘wakes’ of light and color behind them as they streak through Earth’s atmosphere,” according to NASA.

Space writes, “The Perseids are caused by Earth passing through debris — bits of ice and rock — left behind by Comet Swift-Tuttle which last passed close to Earth in 1992.”

Each year they’re active from mid-July to late August. 

When does the Perseid meteor shower occur?

This year the Perseids meteor shower will occur July 14th through September 1st.

When does the Perseid meteor shower peak?

Though the moon will be 50% illuminated at the time of the Perseids meteor shower’s peak, it will set around midnight, making for dark skies that are perfect for meteor hunting!

According to EarthSky, the Perseids meteor shower is predicted to peak on August 12, 2024 at 10 am EST. So the mornings of August 11, 12, and 13 will be the best times to view it.

How many meteors will I be able to see?

Years without moonlight make for higher rates of meteors per hour, and in outburst years (such as in 2016) you can see as many as 150-200 meteors per hour!

This year, NASA writes that we can expect to see up to 100 meteors per hour, traveling at speeds of 37 miles (59 km) per second.

Where in the sky should I look to see the meteors?

The Farmer’s Almanac writes that the Perseid meteor shower can be viewed anywhere in the sky, but the meteors will appear to be traveling away from the constellation Perseus in the night sky.

So locating the constellation Perseus might help you to see as many meteors as possible.

When is the best time to see the Perseid meteor shower?

The Perseids can be viewed any time after dark, with NASA writing that it is possible to view meteors as early as 10 pm, but there are times when the the meteor count is higher than others.

EarthSky suggests watching for the Perseids starting around midnight until dawn, with the best viewing time occurring just before dawn as that’s when the skies are at their darkest.

Where is the best place to see the Perseid meteor shower in NYC?

It’s imperative for anyone hoping to enjoy some stargazing to find a good viewing point with as little light pollution as possible–and yeah, we know that can be hard to do in NYC but it’s not impossible!

Find a comfortable, dark spot with an unobstructed view, like a park or beach, and lay down on your back for the best views. Be sure to give your eyes about 30 minutes to adjust to the darkness (which will make the meteors more visible) and avoid looking at your phone or any bright lights to speed up the process.

Can you see a meteor shower without a telescope?

The coolest part about the Perseid meteor shower is that there’s no need to use binoculars or a telescope! As long as you’re in a dark place meteors will be visible to the naked eye.

How rare is the Perseid meteor shower?

The Perseid meteor shower isn’t rare as it occurs each year in the middle of the summer. It is, however, one of the most famous as it reliably has the brightest and most numerous meteors.

The post The Most Dazzling Meteor Shower Of The Year Has Arrived–Here’s How To See It In NYC appeared first on Secret NYC.

* This article was originally published here

We’d neverrrr encourage swiping those small shampoo bottles you find in the showers in your hotel room, but we will say if you were planning on using them to restock your own bathroom toiletries your hotel room won’t do you any good beginning next year. That’s because on January 1, 2025 New York State will officially ban single-use toiletry bottles under 12 ounces.

According to The Department of Environmental Conservation, the toiletry bottles will be banned from hotels with more than 50 rooms, though by 2026 all New York hotels will have to comply.

The bill, which was first introduced in 2019, is part of an effort to cut down on single-use plastic.

First-time offenders that don’t comply with the bill will receive a warning with 30 days to “correct the violation.” However, if they don’t correct the violation, they’ll have to pay a $250 fine. After another 30 days hotels still not complying will be hit with a $500 fine.

You may have already experienced this for yourself as some hotels have already begun making adjustments, transitioning to using larger pump bottles and shampoo bars.

A Marriott Hotels spokesperson told FOX Business, “We have long been focused on our residential amenities program, switching from small toiletry bottles to larger, pump-topped bottles as part of our commitment to reduce plastic waste.”

A spokesperson for Hilton added, “As of 2023, Hilton properties were required to transition to full-size shampoo, conditioner, and soap amenities, eliminating single-use miniature bottles and reducing disposed bars of soap.”

The bill was originally supposed to go into effect on January 1, 2023, though hotel industry lobbyists asked it be delayed to give hotel staff a chance to use any bottles left in stock. Once the bill goes into effect on January 1, 2025, New York will become the second state to implement the ban, after California.

The post These Items Will Be Banned In All NY Hotels Starting Next Year appeared first on Secret NYC.

* This article was originally published here

See “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” through a new lens as the beloved book is turned into an enchanting  show with over 75 magical  puppets! Tickets are now available to this wonderful family  experience which will take place at The Duke on 42nd Street at NEW 42 Studios!

Eric Carle’s classic story follows one very hungry caterpillar as he eats a variety of food before becoming a butterfly. The story teaches children about a butterfly’s life cycle but also incorporates counting, days of the week and food.

Alongside The Very Hungry Caterpillar, the show features three other Eric Carle stories, with two that have not been seen in NYC since 2016. Audiences learn to create with the colorful characters of The Artist Who Painted the Blue Horse; explore the seas with Mister Seahorse; and help The Very Lonely Firefly find his friends. These beloved tales and their messages of community, self-expression, and the power of creativity are brought to life by a captivating cast of storytellers, sweeping original music, and stunning puppetry.

The show is presented by Rockefeller Studios, the producers and creators of “Sesame Street the Musical,” “Disney’s Winnie The Pooh” and other family favorites. This show is happening at The Duke on 42nd Street at New 42 Studios right in Midtown (229 West 42nd Street between 7th & 8th Avenues).

There are a variety of ticket options available including VIP admission which secures the best views and seats and a photo op with The Hungry Caterpillar himself after the show! It’s the perfect fun family outing!

“The Very Hungry Caterpillar” has stood the test of time since it was first published in the 1960s and has sold tens of millions of copies worldwide and has been translated into over 50 languages! And now, you can experience it in a whole new way.

Event details

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show

September 7, 2024 09:30

The Duke On 42nd Street (229 West 42nd Street, New York, 10036-7205)

From $33.05

Buy tickets

The post ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show’ Returns To NYC & Tickets Are On Sale appeared first on Secret NYC.

* This article was originally published here

Get ready to satisfy your sweet tooth, because for one day only on August 4, Chips Ahoy! is bringing an exclusive pop-up here to NYC. Except we aren’t talking about just any regular pop-up… 

Chips Ahoy! is popping up in the city we’re proud to call our happy place to give New Yorkers a chance to indulge in the delicious nostalgia of ice cream sandwiches. Not only are all Chips Ahoy! ice cream sandwiches free, but the NYC pop-up will let visitors customize their very own treat as well.* So create the ice cream sandwich of your dreams using a variety of toppings and classic Chips Ahoy! cookie flavors. 

An NYC-inspired ice cream sandwich curated by our Secret NYC team will also be available for you to try at the pop-up. Playing on the theme of nostalgia, our sandwich leans into two iconic flavors associated with the city: New York cheesecake and pretzels. What better way to celebrate our happy place than by enjoying this sweet treat?

And as if that wasn’t enough to get you excited, here’s another twist: the pop-up’s location is a secret for now. Chips Ahoy! will quite literally “pop-up” at an undisclosed location in NYC, so you’ll have to join this waitlist for the scoop. It’s sort of like a treasure hunt, but the reward is a delicious, personalized FREE Chips Ahoy! ice cream sandwich. Worth it? Definitely. 

August 4’s Chips Ahoy! ice cream sandwich NYC pop-up is going to be a sweet escape you don’t want to miss. Plus, it’s the perfect excuse to cool off and celebrate summer right here in our happy place.

The post A Chips Ahoy! Ice Cream Sandwich Pop-Up Is Heading To NYC appeared first on Secret NYC.

* This article was originally published here

Following a report from New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP), food delivery fees have spiked 58% since the minimum wage was increased to $16 in NYC.

And though earnings for delivery workers have been significantly raised, there’s been a 9% drop in active worker accounts since last year. “DCWP predicted in its 2022 study that couriers would earn more, but that earning opportunities would be concentrated in fewer hands,” shared a GrubHub spokesperson, and so far that’s proving to be the case. “The couriers who are still able to work need to work much harder, doing 80% more deliveries per hour than they did before the rule took effect,” echoed UberEats in a statement after losing 12,000 workers since the law was implemented.

Food delivery service apps like Uber Eats, GrubHub and DoorDash have had to increase the cost of their added fees to manage the surge in wages, causing New Yorkers to pay 58% more in food delivery fees than last year (up an average of $2.30 per order). Now an average order, including fees, tips and taxes, costs around $39.11.

These high service fees are one of the reasons it’s believed delivery workers are now making less in tips. According to the Adam’s administration, delivery workers are seeing an average drop in tips by $2.64.

And though New Yorkers are paying more for delivery, that didn’t stop them from ordering. In fact, deliveries rose 8% over last year totaling to 2.77 million in Q1 2024.

See more from the report here.

The post New Yorkers Are Paying 58% More In Food Delivery Fees Than Last Year appeared first on Secret NYC.

* This article was originally published here

Back in November of last year it was announced that NYC libraries would be forced to stay closed on Sundays following city budget cuts–and this past March they were potentially looking at only being open five days a week–but after months of fighting against this (along with pressure from the City Council) NYC libraries will once again be open on Sundays!

After months of negotiations, Mayor Eric Adams and City Council leaders announced a historic $112.4 billion budget that restored many of Adams’ proposed cuts.

Thankfully, the budget will positively affect NYC libraries and cultural institutions, as $58.3 million worth of library cuts will be reversed, thus allowing them not only to reopen on Sundays but to additionally remain open on Saturdays.

The Adams administration also baselined $42.8 million in funding every year moving forward.

In a joint press release from Mayor Adams and Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, Speaker Adams stated that restoring libraries’ funding had been a “top priority” for the Council.

According to the press release “libraries are a critical part of NYC’s social fabric, which New Yorkers depend on for children’s growth and the vibrancy of the city.” It added that seven-day service will begin in branches that previously offered it on a rolling basis, and by July 14th there will be a branch open seven days a week in every borough.

Moreover, newly renovated locations will open across all five boroughs.

Mayor Adams stated:

I understand firsthand how important libraries are for children, families, and every New Yorker in leveling the playing field…From providing spaces to prepare our young people for a bright future to being a vital partner in the creation of affordable housing, libraries are a lifeline for countless communities. Today, we can all be proud that our city has a budget that invests in our libraries and invests in the future of our city.

The post NYC Libraries Are Once Again Open On Sundays appeared first on Secret NYC.

* This article was originally published here