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Airport terminals typically evoke feelings of stress, from almost missing your check-in window to attempting to get through baggage claim as quickly as possible so you can finally enjoy a $30 slice of pizza at your gate. But John F. Kennedy’s Terminal 6 will transform the experience as we know it.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, alongside JFK Millenium Partners, announced that 18 artists will debut new public art commissions when the terminal opens to passengers in 2026. The artists hail from seven different countries, with 10 currently living in New York. The art program is led by the Public Art Fund and will feature sculpture work, suspended installations, glass mosaic floor medallions and wall works.

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These permanent commissions aim to capture and produce the spirit of New York. 

“These remarkable artists will bring the unique spirit of our region to the new JFK Terminal 6, welcoming international visitors and locals alike,” said Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole. “We applaud the creative vision of these talented artists and look forward to seeing their creative works transform the terminal.”

The Port Authority has already transformed terminals at the new LaGuardia Airport and Terminal A at Newark Liberty International Airport through public artwork and new operational technology. Their goal is to create a world-class passenger experience for those passing through or touching down in New York and New Jersey. JFK is next on their list, and Terminal 6 is vital to their plans. Not only will they upgrade world-class gateways and install a new ground transportation center, but by filling Terminal 6 with public art, they hope to make the terminal a destination in and of itself.  

“Art takes a starring role at the new Terminal 6. Walls, floors, ceilings and volumes will all be enriched with architecturally integrated, site-specific commissions by some of the most extraordinary artists of our time,” said Nicholas Baume, artistic & executive director of Public Art Fund. “Like Terminal 6 and New York itself, the reach of the art program is global, featuring artists from near and far, from groundbreaking, emerging voices to senior, celebrated figures.”

* This article was originally published here

Each year when the summer hits many New Yorkers pack their bags and wave sayonara to the city, and they do so for one reason: to escape the scorching heat. As we profusely sweat through the third heat wave of what is one of the hottest summers of our lifetime, we’re just over here wondering “why is NYC so damn hot?!”

Four words for you: urban heat island effect.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, urban heat islands are “are urbanized areas that experience higher temperatures than outlying areas.”

When natural land covers are replaced with dense concentrations of pavement, buildings, and other surfaces they absorb and retain heat and then re-emit the sun’s heat more than natural landscapes, making these areas hotter than rural environments.

And you can definitely feel the difference–the EPA writes that daytime temperatures in urban areas are about 1–7°F higher than temperatures in rural areas, and nighttime temperatures are about 2-5°F higher

And now a new study by Climate Central has found that New Yorkers feel this heat more than anyone else in the country.

Climate Central communicates climate change science, effects, and solutions to the public, and they recently analyzed how and where urban heat islands boost temperatures within 65 major U.S. cities. And while the planet as a whole is warming due to human-caused climate change, “the built environment further amplifies both average temperatures and extreme heat in cities.”

So, to better understand the role that the built environment plays in making us feel like we’re actually being cooked like a rotisserie chicken, they calculated the urban heat island (UHI) index for every census block group within each city.

To clarify, Climate Central writes that “UHI index values are estimates of how much the urban built environment boosts temperatures.” Or, in other words, it’s an estimate of the additional heat urban areas receive beyond just what the temperatures show.

The three biggest factors that influence UHI index are:

• Albedo – the fraction of incoming solar radiation reflected by a surface (for example, surfaces like roads have a low albedo and therefore absorb sunlight and radiate it back into the city as heat)
• Percentage of green space – plants can reduce peak summer temperatures by 2°F to 9°F in urban areas!
• Population density – transportation, industrial facilities, and the cooling of buildings causes extra heat

But getting back to the main question: Why is NYC so f&%*ing hot right now?!

Well, Climate Central found that while the 68% of the 50 million people included in their analysis are living in census block groups with an UHI index of 8°F or higher, NYC’s UHI index was the highest of the 65 cities looked at, coming in at 9.7°F.

And when looking at NYC’s population specifically, 83% of us are living within this UHI index (and this is the hottest neighborhood in all of NYC).

Even more, NYC is one of only “six cities that had at least 1 million people exposed to an UHI index of 8°F or higher — meaning that on a day when temperatures in a park outside the city are 90°F, it feels like 98°F or higher for at least 1 million people in the city.”

So, while us New Yorkers are constantly looking for ways to stay cool in the suffocating heat–especially when heat wave after heat wave keep smothering us–there are also some long-term solutions that can be taken to the city as a whole to mitigate the heat, including:

• Planting trees – particularly along paved streets
• Implementing green roofs, or rooftop gardens
• Implementing cool roofs made of highly reflective (i.e., high albedo) and emissive materials
• Implementing cool pavements – an alternative to conventional concrete or asphalt which are instead reflective and/or permeable to help reduce surface temperatures

The full study can be found here.

The post This Is The Reason NYC Is So F&%*ing Hot Right Now appeared first on Secret NYC.

* This article was originally published here

When it comes to immersive experiences, this New Yorker has had about enough: how many times can we walk through warehouses illuminated with projections of ancient art pieces? Although engaging interactive landscapes that titillate all our senses through digital and scent-related components certainly excite, there’s something to be said about a straightforward, traditional art exhibit.

Given my constant laments about the current state of cultural affairs that hinge on the immersive, I was averse to visiting Balloon Story, a “balloon wonderland” that has taken over the Park Avenue Armory with a whopping 600,000 inflatables set up across different exhibit rooms.

RECOMMENDED: Incredible immersive experiences to do in NYC right now

And, yet, a recent excursion to the massive production left me wondering if, perhaps, I should give these sorts of experiences another shot.

More than anything, the artistry involved in crafting monuments out of balloons (and blowing them up—but more on that later) left me amazed. 

On display through August 24 (tickets are available right here), Balloon Story offers patrons interactive activations—a balloon maze, for example, and a jungle ball pit—but it’s the actual recreations of iconic landmarks and figures that are the highlight of the production: you’ll find yourself staring at each one wondering, how, exactly, they were built.

The show is split into sections that range in theme but not in scope: the subjects are different but they are all built using “environmentally friendly” natural rubber. 

“To ensure precision and efficiency, all balloons were inflated using specialized electric air pumps,” Balloon Story art director Kobi Kalimian tells Time Out. “These pumps enabled rapid inflation to exact specifications required for each artwork.” That’s good: my visit involved incessant thoughts about the people hired to blow up thousands of balloons to exact sizes by sheer lung power.

Exhibit rooms include one dedicated to ocean animals, another focusing on worldly landmarks (the balloon version of the Eiffel Tower is particularly striking), another one about space and an area featuring different photo ops of the virtual age: inflated backgrounds that look particularly awesome when seen while scrolling down your Instagram feed.

Speaking of social media: the creations are the sorts of subjects that seem to resonate the most on TikTok and the like, but guests would be remiss to only gaze at them through their phone screens. Seeing a recreation of the Statue of Liberty using solely balloons will remind you of the power of artistry and the beauty of craft making. 

There is just something about how these are built that will make you forget all about the immersive portion of the experience and, alas, focus on the expertise of the balloon pros that built them, in a way paying homage to more traditional art exhibits. 

Kalimian explains that to be the result of a meticulous selection process of artists that lasted approximately three months and included picks from around the globe. 

“We ultimately assembled a team of top-tier artists who spent 10 days creating these stunning works of art,” he says. 

When asked about the process of creation, Kalimian is quick to note that each piece is unique, some taking a relatively short hour to be built and others up to four days. 

“At the exhibition grounds, each team was led by a designated team leader who oversaw project management,” he explains. “Artists were granted creative autonomy, allowing them to express their professional expertise.”

Although it falls squarely in the category of immersive experiences that would shock a decade ago but are part and parcel of everyday culture in 2024, Balloon Story is certainly worth a second, more deep look. If visited properly (no phone in hand!), it might actually remind you of what art used to be and what it still can accomplish.

Balloon Story is on now through August 24 and the Park Avenue Armory. Tickets start at $33.90 and $26.90 for kids.

* This article was originally published here

Whether you’re looking to impress a date or simply your tase buds, we know just where to recommend!

From Wednesday, July 17th until Saturday, August 17th, New Yorkers can order an off-menu cocktail at Bandits known as the Secret Mai Tai. A confidential blend of rum pairs perfectly with Aperol, coconut, allspice and lime to make you feel like your on vacation mode even though you haven’t left the city.

At Bandits, guests can dance beneath the disco ball or cozy into a booth with a cutie, all within the walls of its retro meets tiki bar interior.

So what makes the Secret Mai Tai so secret? Well, besides not being found anywhere on the menu, there’s also an exciting upgrade you can add by supersizing it to serve a group.  The extra large version comes served in funky hula girl glasses, ON FIRE.

However, if you’re just wanting a drink or two, you can’t beat the price of our single-serve Secret Mai Tai. By showing the bartender you liked our Instagram post about this collaboration you can get the cocktail for just $10! Talk about a good deal in NYC.

But don’t worry, if you upgraded, we didn’t forget about you. If you showed the bartender you liked the same post with the extra large version, you’ll get yourself an order of FREE tots—a Bandits specialty. Do note that only one order of the extra large version can be placed at any given time so you better hurry if you want to be the exclusive group that gets it first each day.

The post Try Our Secret, Off-Menu Cocktail Now Available At Bandits—& It’s Only $10 appeared first on Secret NYC.

* This article was originally published here