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New York strives to be No. 1 in all things, so when we reach the pinnacle, we want to shout it out!

The iconic Empire State Building has just been ranked the No. 1 attraction in the world for the first time ever by Tripadvisor. 

The site just released its 2024 Travelers’ Choice Awards Best of the Best Things to Do, which highlights the highest-rated attractions and experiences in the U.S. and around the world based on thousands of Tripadvisor reviews. The Empire State Building has over 60,000 5-star reviews on the site, “reinforcing its claim as the “World’s Most Famous Building,” Tripadvisor states in a press release this morning.

“Reviewers are wowed by the 360-degree view of New York, where they can point out all of their favorite landmarks and see up to six states on a clear day,” it says. “Over 300 reviews deem it a ‘once in a lifetime’ experience.

The Empire State Building beat out the Eiffel Tower in Paris (No. 2), the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam (No. 3), the Basilica de la Sagrada Familia in Barcelona (No. 4) and the Cayman Crystal Caves in Grand Cayman (No. 5). Others farther down on the list include the Colosseum in Rome,  the Louvre Museum in Paris, the Gardens by the Bay in Singapore, the Duomo di Milano in and the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center in Abu Dhabi. No other U.S. attractions made the top 10 global list.

You can see the top 25 Best of the Best Attractions in the world here.

Of course, the Empire State Building beat out all other U.S. attractions too, including Central Park and the Brooklyn Bridge. These two other NYC attractions did make Tripadvisor’s Top Attractions in the U.S. list at No. 3 and No. 8, respectively, which you can check out here.

So what else makes the ESB so darn special? Well, it’s also one of our picks of the top attractions in NYC because it boasts some beautiful Art Deco details, many of which were restored in the last decade, and it’s become much more than the views of NYC that it offers. Yes, it has the iconic open-air 86th Floor Observatory and another open-air observatory on the 86th floor, but it also has a 102nd-floor observation deck with floor-to-ceiling views stretching up to 80 miles on a clear day. In addition, there’s an impressive museum that has fun photo opps and showcases the amazing history of the building and those who built it, as well as its identity as a pop culture icon. 

Recently, the building has gotten some pretty cool additions. It often plays host to fun events, like movie screenings, and it is now home to the Starbucks Reserve Cafe, where you can sip ESB-exclusive coffee drinks and dine on Italian pastries and other snacks. If you want a fancy night out, its STATE Grill and Bar is the building’s signature restaurant.

If you want to learn more about the famous building, we’ve got it all right here.

Tripadvisor also ranked the top experiences in the world and the U.S. as well as the most unforgettable vacation moments, which you can peruse on its website.

* This article was originally published here

New Yorkers rightfully went berserk when supermarket chain Wegmans opened its first store in Manhattan by Astor Place last year. 

Excitement may mount once more: Eater reports that a second Manhattan location, this one at 1932 Broadway between 64th and 65th Streets on the Upper West Side, will open some time in the next couple of years.” 

Here is the back story: back in February, the New York Post reported that the privately owned grocery chain had signed a long-term deal for the former Bed Bath & Beyond space, although details about what the store would look like and serve were left unclear.

From the sounds of it, though, the destination is set to become a market. 

“A spokesperson for Wegmans confirmed that it’s still early stages for the spot, with the crew clearing things out from the previous tenant,” writes Eater.

At 58,000 square feet, the space is smaller than the 87,000-square-foot Astor Place shop and the 74,000-square-foot one in the Brooklyn Navy Yard that opened back in 2019. If the success of the various markets is of any indication, the new destination will feature a mix of premade foods, deli products, fresh produce and the kind of pantry staples that all kitchens are constantly in need of.

One more thing: according to Eater, Next Door at Astor Place, the Japanese restaurant that was set to open inside Astor Place Wegmans some time this year will actually not become a reality until, at least, 2025 due to “significant changes in design and menu.”

We’ll be sitting here, patiently waiting for all of these exciting openings to take place.

* This article was originally published here

New York is home to many stunning waterfalls–even a fiery one that’s the only one of its kind in the world!–but there aren’t any you can swim in…or are there? Less than five hours from NYC you’ll find Lower Falls, and yes, you can actually swim in it!

Lower Falls, or Enfield Falls, is located in Robert H. Treman State Park near Ithaca, New York. It’s a 70 foot waterfall at the foot of the Enfield Glen and, unlike most other waterfalls, you can swim in the large pool directly at its base.

The pool even has a diving board and lifeguard! 

Basically, we just found the next best thing to add to your summer bucket list!

And while Lower Falls is probably the most exciting portion of Robert H. Treman State Park, it’s just a small slice of what the park has to offer. To truly experience the park, hike any of the trails or check out Enfield Glen, the scenic highlight of the park with craggy gorges and winding trails.

In total there are twelve waterfalls in the park, including the massive Lucifer Falls which stands 115 feet tall! Plus, further up in the glen are countless flumes and plunges to check out.

Robert H. Treman State Park was donated to New York State in the 1920s by Robert Treman and his wife Laura after they built stone walkways and bridges. Though once only 380 acres today the park is 1072 acres.

If you’re looking for the best place to cool off this summer, let it be here!

105 Enfield Falls Rd, Ithaca, NY 14850

  4.5 hours from NYC by car

The post You Can Actually Swim In This 70 Foot Tall Waterfall In NY appeared first on Secret NYC.

* This article was originally published here

The Sea Level Rise Viewer tool is an interactive map created by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that does two things: it shows users how ocean level may shift across the region now through 2021 and it also fills you with much anxiety after playing around with it for a few minutes.

There are a bunch of different tools to play around with. You could either see which areas would mostly be affected by specific rising sea levels (parts of lower Manhattan shine when increasing the water unit to three feet) or look through local scenario predictions. By the year 2040, for example, the ocean around Manhattan will likely rise by a little over a foot. That number jumps to over 5 feet when looking at the year 2100.

One more option: analyzing data based on best versus worst-case scenarios. As reported by SILive.com, the best-case scenario in Montauk in 2100 shows a 2.49-foot rise and on the other end of the spectrum is a 6.66-foot increase. Westhampton and Hamilton Beach will also be the sites of receding coastlines. 

The southern part of Long Island and New York communities right by creeks and rivers are also “in peril.”

According to Newsweek, a sea level rise of under six feet would result in half of LaGuardia Airport being submerged by the East River “as would the streets immediately bordering Manhattan’s current waterfront and the Hudson River Greenway.”

Although the interactive map is just a predicting tool, the problems that it analyzes are the sorts of issues that the local government has been warning about and trying to deal with for years now. 

Back in May, for example, the Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice and the New York City Panel on Climate Change (NPCC), an independent board that analyzes local environmental impact, released a new report warning that NYC will see an increase in the frequency and duration of hotter-than-average days and overall rainfall. The survey also warned against the risks stemming from the latter changes—including rising sea levels. 

According to the report, see levels in New York will continue to rise between half-a-foot and just over a foot all the way through the 2030s—basically re-affirming the NOAA’s findings. 

We’re not here to panic, but we’re sure hoping that officials are thinking of ways to mitigate the effects of climate change.

* This article was originally published here

They’re two island countries that have given the world many delicious exports, and now the best of Japan and Haiti are coming together at Brooklyn Kura‘s latest pop-up dinner series, overseen by Brooklyn-born Haitian chef Deborah L. Jean (Le Coucou, La Mercerie). 

RECOMMENDED: The best Caribbean restaurants in NYC allow you to kick back and ease the stress of city living

Of course, given that this is Brooklyn Kura—a recently opened sake brewery and tasting room in Industry City with the sole purpose of getting people to explore sake through tours, tastings and educational events—there will be plenty of craft sake on offer during the dinner pop-ups, which will take place on Friday, June 28, and Saturday, June 29, beginning at 7pm in the taproom each night.

Those sake selections will pair alongside a family-style, multi-course Caribbean meal from Chef Deb, inspired by both classic French techniques and her childhood helping her grandmother prepare traditional Haitian feasts.

Among the four courses ($75 for just the food spread, $90 with two hand-picked Brooklyn Kura sake pairings), you’ll enjoy a bright and fresh salad of cucumber, avocado, cherry tomatoes and strawberries dressed with tart papaya vinaigrette; a scallop tartare with pickled apple, shallot mignonette and guava dressing; and a main course of “Pawson Gros Sel,” Haitian-style steamed fish served with coconut rice, watercress salad and pickled peppers.

And to end on a sweet note, dessert will include juicy mango sorbet with coconut creme and peanut brittle that will leave you feeling like you’re somewhere slightly more tropical than Sunset Park. 

Tickets must be pre-purchased to join the dinner’s communal table. Spots are limited, so you can reserve your seat early by snagging a ticket on the Brooklyn Kura website. (And check out a sneak peek of Chef Deb’s delicious-looking dishes below!)

* This article was originally published here

Celebrating Fourth of July weekend at a German-style beirgarten while drinking Mexican cocktails out of flamingo floats? Doesn’t get more American than that. You can kick off your patriotic festivities at Loreley Beer Garden‘s new summer pop-up Margarita Beach Club, which is running at the Lower East Side bar until September 10 with tropical plants, floral wall installations and plenty of tequila drinks. 

RECOMMENDED: Frozen, fruity, on the rocks, with salt or without—these are the 16 best margaritas in NYC

And between Wednesday, July 3 through Sunday, July 7, guests can ‘cheers’ to the USA with a special “Frosé, White & Blue,” a large, layered frozen drink featuring the restaurant-bar’s signature Frosé (made with vodka, rosé and fresh strawberry purée) on the bottom, classic frozen margarita in the middle, and blue frozen margarita on top, dressed up with a cherry and a holiday-themed rubber ducky to keep.

Joining that festive frozen, Margarita Beach Club will be churning out summery drinks all season long, like the Unicorn Frozen Margarita, a blue frozen margarita with pineapple, cherry and umbrella served in an inflatable unicorn that guests get to keep as a souvenir. You can also choose from myriad margaritas, available either frozen or on the rocks in flavors like Mango Habanero, Coconut, Strawberry, Pineapple, and Spicy Jalapeño. There will also be a selection of tequilas and mezcals to choose from, in case you want to make your own custom marg. 

Daily happy hour specials during the summer will include select margaritas, but also bottles of wine, beer and non-tequila cocktails, too, starting at 5pm on weekdays and noon from Fridays through Sundays. You can enjoy your refreshing drinks out in the beer garden’s backyard, which will be covered with a large outdoor tent to help you further escape from the blazing summer sun. Loreley’s street cabana will similarly see a festive beach-cabana makeover during the pop-up, with white drapes, teal-and-white striped bench cushions and more. 

Check out some of the drinks and decor at Loreley’s Margarita Beach Club pop-up below:

* This article was originally published here