Author: Site Adminstrator

If you can’t actually make it to a pool or beach this July 4, you might want to head to Rockefeller Center instead, where a massive “Pool Party” has taken over the area. 

At the Rink, now through July 21, visitors will get to play around with a special public installation by artist Joel Mesler that depicts a pool surrounded by grass and filled with the sorts of beach balls and floaties that define the essence of summer. 

The artwork is a printed vinyl of the artist’s signature water motif, part of a larger installation inspired by his own memories of childhood pool parties.

RECOMMENDED: The best hotel and rooftop pools in NYC

According to a press release, the activation is an interactive one that urges guests to “kick off their shoes and ‘dip their toes’ into a whimsical representation of summertime bliss.”

In addition to that central makeshift body of “water,” Mesler has adorned Rockefeller Center with vinyl imagery on view all throughout the space, plus a series of 193 flags surrounding the Rink that feature phrases of community like “joy,” “love” and “hugs.”

“These flags serve as beacons of positivity and personal reflections, providing a welcoming environment for all who visit,” reads the press release.

And if it’s more traditional sorts of celebrations that you are after, check out our list of best 4th of July events in NYC and our guide to where to watch the Macy’s 4th of July fireworks (on the West side this year!). 

* This article was originally published here

Independence Day is upon us again, and Macy’s is helping us all celebrate with a truly dazzling spectacle: A fireworks show featuring 60,000 shells launched from the Hudson River in New York City. 

This Fourth of July, you can expect to see fireworks in 30 colors with jaw-dropping effects, including a never-before-seen firework with a kaleidoscopic design. Here’s everything you need to know to enjoy the Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks in NYC.

RECOMMENDED: The best 4th of July events in NYC for 2024

What time is the Macy’s 4th of July fireworks show?

The fireworks show begins around 9:25pm on Thursday, July 4. TV coverage starts earlier, though, at 8pm on NBC and Peacock.

Where are the best places to watch NYC’s 4th of July fireworks?

Fireworks will launch from barges positioned along the Hudson River with multiple viewing opportunities in Manhattan and in New Jersey. It’s the first time in more than a decade that the fireworks are being launched on the west side of Manhattan. Here’s Macy’s list of public viewing locations. 

Manhattan

• Christopher St. & Washington St.
• W. 11th St & Washington St.
• W. 12th St. & Washington St.
• W. 29th St. & 11th Ave.
• W. 40th St. & 11th Ave.
• W. 41st St. & 11th Ave.

Hoboken

• Pier A Park
• Maxwell Place Park
• Stevens Park
• Elysian Park

Time Out tip: While the fireworks are being launched on the west side of Manhattan, don’t assume that anywhere on the west side will have a view. Views will be obstructed from some spots, and some areas will be closed. 

In addition to the public (read: free) viewing points listed above, lots of bars, restaurants, and venues are hosting ticketed watch parties. A few of our top picks include Edge, Somewhere Nowhere, and Pier 57; here’s our full list of July 4 events. 

Who’s performing?

Before the fireworks light up the sky, a star-studded lineup will take the stage live from New York City. Audiences can tune in to see performances by Tanner Adell, Luis Fonsi, The War And Treaty, and Lainey Wilson in advance of Macy’s multi-sensory pyrotechnic salute to the nation.

The performances aren’t open to the public in person; instead, you’ll have to tune into NBC or Peacock at 8pm.

Are there any travel restrictions?

Lots of them! But you can make your plans in advance with our full list of street closures below.

• Joe DiMaggio Highway / West Side Highway / West Street / 12th Avenue / 11th Avenue between Spring Street and West 46th Street
• Clarkson Street between West Street and Greenwich Street
• Christopher Street between West Street and Greenwich Street
• Charles Street between West Street and Washington Street
• West 11th Street between West Street and Greenwich Street
• West 12th Street between West Street and Greenwich Street
• West 13th Street between West Street/11th Avenue and Washington Street
• West 15th Street between West Street/11th Avenue and 10th Avenue
• West 17th Street between West Street/11th Avenue and 10th Avenue
• West 20th Street between West Street/11th Avenue and 10th Avenue
• West 22nd Street between West Street/12th Avenue and 10th Avenue
• West 24th Street between West Street/12th Avenue and 11th Avenue
• West 26th Street between West Street/12th Avenue and 11th Avenue
• West 29th Street between West Street/12th Avenue and 10th Avenue
• West 34th Street between West Street/12th Avenue and 11th Avenue
• West 40th Street between West Street/12th Avenue and 10th Avenue
• West 41st Street between West Street/12th Avenue and 11th Avenue
• West 44th Street between West Street/12th Avenue and 11th Avenue
• 11th Avenue between West 22nd Street and West 46th Street

If you’re heading to the fireworks, Macy’s recommends taking public transit. Also keep in mind that parking will not be available near public access points in New York City and New Jersey. Subway and bus service will be increased after the show to help you get home. 

* This article was originally published here

You may have heard of the 750-mile Empire Trail that connects Manhattan and Canada, but what if there was a trail more than triple the size that spanned the entire United States of America? Well, one has already been dreamed up, known as the Great American Rail-Trail. Covering more than 3,700 miles from Washington D.C. to the state of Washington, it would be the nation’s first cross-country multi-use trail.

So how would it work? The Great American Rail-Trail would use already existing rail-trails and greenways to complete the pathway, thus the project is already more than 55% complete. According to Rail-to-Trails Conservancy’s (RTC), the largest trails organization in the country, preferred route assessment, around 50,000,000 Americans would be within 50 miles of the trail, creating a connective and accessible bike network like never before.

The enormous trail would pass through 150+ existing trails in Washington, DC, Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Nebraska, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and Washington.

It was with great care that the RTC considered the best direct route through communication with various trail partners and state agency representatives. Overall, the trail still requires 1,600 miles to be completed along the route.

Beyond the health benefits the trail would bring to millions of Americans, it would generate mass economic growth. For example, the Great American Rail-Trail could create $229.4 million in visitor spending, 2,500 new jobs, $22.8 million in tax revenue, and $104 million in labor income annually.

“The Great American Rail-Trail promises an all-new American experience, creating new access to the outdoors and America’s heritage, people and places for the millions of trail users who will visit. Across the nation—and the world—only the limits of imagination will limit how people chose to experience the Great American,” shares the Great American Rail-Trail website.

To learn more, visit here.

The post This Nationwide Bike Path Would Connect The Country Across 3,700+ Miles Of Trails appeared first on Secret NYC.

* This article was originally published here

Searchin’ for your lost shaker of salt? You’ll no doubt find one at the Margaritaville Resort Times Square, which is forever well-stocked with all of the accouterments needed for that titular, tequila-splashed bev. And speaking of tequila, the fun-loving hotel will celebrate National Tequila Day on Wednesday, July 24, with the property’s first-ever Margarita Bar Crawl. 

RECOMMENDED: Frozen, fruity, with salt or without—no matter how you like ’em, these are NYC’s best margaritas

Margarita lovers are welcome to head over to the midtown getaway (560 Seventh Avenue) for a night of margaritas, music and good vibes. (Snag your ticket here.) Participants will be given a Bar Crawl Passport upon entry, which they can use to barhop from drinkery to drinkery inside the hotel, trying out different takes on the classic margarita at each bar. 

From 5pm to 8pm, a Build Your Own Nacho Station will be available at the Landshark Bar & Grill on the pool deck included with the price of a ticket. There, you’ll also get to sip the “Uptown Top Shelf Margarita,” made with Teremana Reposado Tequila, Cointreau Orange Liqueur, and Margaritaville’s house margarita blend topped with a Gran Gala Orange Liqueur float).

Elsewhere, you can wet your whistle with the “W. 40th St & Agave” (Casamigos Blanco Tequila, Grand Marnier Orange Liqueur, Earl Grey Agave, lime juice) 32 stories up at the 5 O’Clock Somewhere Rooftop Bar; the “Grand Margarita” (Espolon Reposado Tequila, Cointreau Orange Liqueur, lime and orange Juices, agave nectar and pasteurized egg whites “shaken to grand perfection”) at the License to Chill bar and outdoor patio on the 7th floor; and the “Seaside Hacienda” (Patrón Silver Tequila, Cointreau Orange Liqueur, agave nectar and the house margarita blend with orange and lime juice) at the hotel’s signature Margaritaville Restaurant & Tiki Bar on level two. 

Drinks are redeemable all day, so you can bop around as you choose. Enjoy all four custom margaritas and collect a Passport Stamp at each Bar and you can receive a complimentary souvenir shot glass from the Margaritaville Retail Store. 

* This article was originally published here

“New York shows that everyone can just coexist,” says Gary Janetti, the famous TV writer behind hit shows like Family Guy and Will and Grace, among many others. “I’ve seen that New Yorkers will be there for strangers. I find them to be very accepting and kind people.”

And yet, when pressed about what he can’t stand about New York, a city he was born and raised in and still visits very often, Janetti is quick to note that New Yorkers tend to be a bit self-absorbed.

“They talk about New York too much,” he says. “I get it! Basically, if we were to have dinner, we’d be dining with a third invisible person: New York would be at the table with us.”

That sort of quick-witted, analytical perspective is what has earned Janetti attention on social media as well. On Instagram specifically, the 58-year-old is known for his takes on all sorts of topics, from the royal family to matters of etiquette and funny tales involving his longtime partner and now-husband Brad Goreski, a fashion stylist and TV personality.

Fans will also get to indulge in Janetti’s worldview when reading his new book, We Are Experiencing a Slight Delay, set to debut on July 9. 

A collection of travel essays—including one involving his stint as a bellman at the Paramount Hotel in New York—the book will be Janetti’s third, following 2019’s Do You Mind If I Cancel? (Things That Still Annoy Me) and 2022’s Start Without Me (I’ll be There in a Minute).

Below, Janetti opens up about his favorite New York restaurants, the power of social media and, of course, his upcoming book.

Tell us about your new book, We Are Experiencing a Slight Delay.

“It’s a series of travel essays, [including] one about my time as a bellman at the Paramount Hotel in New York. It was in the ’90s and, at that time, it was quite the scene because it was one of the first boutique hotels.

The rooms were very tiny and, as a bellman, if I wasn’t too careful, I would open the door too strongly to put the suitcases inside and knock over the nightstand. If anybody ever complained, the answer was always: ‘This is New York!’ As if New York is a force too strong for any of us. Any sort of complaint you ever had—my husband got mugged outside! My food service was gross!—the answer was always, ‘This is New York!'”

What are your favorite restaurants in New York? 

“Raoul’s in Soho is one of them. When I lived in New York, straight out of New York University, I lived in Nolita which, at the time, was a neighborhood that had no name. I had a friend who was a waiter at Raoul’s and we would go have a drink after it closed often. I would see it and always think of being able to afford eating there one day. To me, the restaurant was the height of sophistication, like stepping into Paris. It still tickles me to this day. 

When I go to Queens to visit my parents, who still live in the same house I grew up in, we go to Il Nocello in Whitestone, a little neighborhood Italian restaurant.”

What about date night restaurants?

“I love Don Angie. It’s a good Italian date night restaurant that manages to feel very neighborhoody. 

Also, Balthazar. It’s been around so long. It’s an institution and it feels like everybody comes through it at some point: tourists, family members, people who live in the neighborhood.”

What are your go-to bookstores in New York?

“I love the Strand and Three Lives & Company in the West Village.”

What is it about social media that excites you the most?

“I think we’re all very familiar with the negative aspects of social media but I also think that there are a lot of positives surrounding the platforms. When I started posting, it was just a way for me to create something—a story, a joke I wanted to tell. Usually, I could be working on something for a year and have it go through many stages before and if it goes in front of an audience. Suddenly, on social media, nobody is giving me notes, there is no interim body of people between me and the audience. I can just have a thought and a point of view and instantly put it out there and have people respond to it.”

You can follow him on Instagram and Twitter.

We Are Experiencing a Slight Delay debuts on July 9. 

* This article was originally published here

Grab your furry friend and get ready to hit the beach because it’s officially summer…and it’s time for your little one to frolic and cool off! Many dog owners can struggle to find permitted beaches to bring their dogs in NYC, since many of the city’s public beaches prohibits dogs during the summer months (can go on them September – May). However, we’ve put together a list of sandy spots just outside of city limits where you can take your dog off-leash, splash around in the water, and grab some waterfront views.

Here’s our favorite dog-friendly beaches near NYC you should bookmark for this summer.

1. Prospect Park Dog Beach

While this one isn’t really a coastal-type beach, Prospect Park Dog Beach’s is one of our favorites thanks to its dog-friendly swimming area right in the middle of the park. During the summer, pups can splash around during special off-leash hours from 6 am – 9 am and 9 pm – 1 am. Of course there’s plenty of green acres to walk them around before or after the “beach” as well as the beautiful Kensington Dog Run at the Prospect Park Parade Ground.

Where: Prospect Park (by Long Meadow Ballfield)

2. Bayshore Waterfront Park

Just across the waters in Port Monmouth, New Jersey is Bayshore Waterfront Park, a scenic little waterfront park and beach that you can bring your dog to on-leash. It never seems to be crowded (which is why we love it so much) and it even has free parking and pretty nice public bathrooms. It’s the perfect little spot to pack a lunch, bring your pup and enjoy some sunshine. Hours are typically 7 am – around 8:30/9:30 based on the date.

Where: 719 Port Monmouth Rd, Port Monmouth, NJ

3. Asbury Park Dog Beach

If you’re sourcing out which Jersey Shore beach town can accommodate your dog on vacation this summer, look no further than Asbury Park. Our love for this beach is quite evident by now, and it’s amplified even more by their special Asbury Park Dog Beach. Pups are welcomed to play off-leash at their special location (during the summer) before 8:30 am and after 6 pm.

During the off-season (September – May), you can bring your dogs on the main beach as well as the boardwalk.

Where: 1738 Ocean Ave N, Asbury Park, NJ

4. Sandy Hook Beach

Sandy Hook Beach’s unique location allows dog owners to have two different options when it comes to bringing their pup to the beach. On the bay side, dogs are allowed to run and splash around on-leash all year long. However on the beach side, dogs are only permitted during the off-season from September 15 – March 15.

Where: 100 Hartshorne Dr, Middletown, NJ

5. Larchmont Dog Beach

Larchmont Manor Park is located just a little north of the city in Westchester County, but it’s one of our favorite spots to take a little day trip with the furry one. The cute secluded beach welcomes dogs on leashes at all times, allowing them to splash around in the Long Island Sound to their heart’s content. It’s open all year round too which makes it convenient. Be sure to go during low tide.

Where: 118 Park Ave, Larchmont, NY

6. Montauk & East Hampton Main Beach

If you’re heading out east to The Hamptons this summer bookmark these two dog-friendly beaches you can stop on during your travels. Montauk Beach is accessible pretty much all the way up the Old Montauk Highway or right in the center of town. You can stroll with your dog before 9 am and after 6 pm on or off-leash. Similarly at East Hampton Main Beach, dogs can be off-leash before 9 am and after 6 pm during the summer, and can be off-leash as much as they want the rest of the year.

Where: 

Montauk Beach – 629 Old Montauk Hwy, Montauk, NY

East Hampton Main Beach – 101 Ocean Ave, East Hampton, NY

7. Little Stony Point Beach

Little Stony Point Beach is one of our favorite off-the-beaten-path dog-friendly beaches and it sits along the Hudson River up near Cold Spring, NY. The local spot not only has a fairly new dog park nearby, but plenty of shaded trees, sticks to play with, and shallow waters to splash around in. 

They also host lots of events too like “Spring Cleanup Days,” “Maple Syrup Day,” and more which you can bring your pet to, as well as tons of walking trails you can conquer (on-leash).

Where: 3011 Route 9D, Cold Spring, NY

8. Atlantic Beach

Atlantic Beach is about 20ish miles from Manhattan on Long Island, and there a bit more restrictive on the dog limitations. You can bring them from October – March, or opt for nearby Nickerson Beach Park or Point Lookout Dog Park which have designated off-leash dog runs.

Where: 65 The Plz, Atlantic Beach, NY

9. Port Jefferson Beach

This quaint, narrow strip of shoreline on Long Island is the perfect place to bring your dog, especially when there’s low tide. There’s plenty of rocks to climb, sand to play in, and shallow waters to splash around. It’s on the harbor side so dogs can be unleashed at the owner’s discretion, and it’s always kept pretty clean. There’s even some vendors selling goodies sometimes and it’s pretty close to the village of Port Jefferson too to walk around.

Where: Bell Circle, Port Jefferson, NY

10. Plumb Beach

Rounding out our list another spot in Brooklyn that has some decent dog-friendly access that you can get without having to leave NYC! Dogs are allowed at Plumb Beach as long as they are kept on a leash no longer than 6 feet! This beach is often synonymous for wind sports, kite surfing, and walking paths which are fun to enjoy while you stroll along with your pup.

Where: Belt Parkway, Brooklyn

The post 10 Best Dog-Friendly Beaches Near NYC To Visit This Summer appeared first on Secret NYC.

* This article was originally published here