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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