It’s official: next summer, some of the car lanes on parts of Flatbush Avenue will turn into bus-only routes, according to Gothamist.
The effort, which seeks to alleviate the traffic that constantly defines the area, has been a long time coming: city officials proposed the changes back in 2023.
According to a new proposal by the Department of Transportation, bus-only lanes would replace car lanes in each direction of Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn between Linvingston Street and Grand Army Plaza.
How, exactly, the plans would be implemented is still unclear. According to Gothamist, there are three design options to choose from. The first involves the addition of concrete islands for passengers and bus lanes in the middle of the street. The second design, on the other hand, requires the creation of the lanes next to the curbs alongside a ban on parking during specific hours. The third option would completely replace a car lane with a bus one.
“Transportation officials said they eventually plan to add bus lanes along Flatbush Avenue all the way down to Kings Plaza, but added that they are prioritizing the northern corridor because it’s the most congested section of the street,” reports the outlet.
In other bus-related updates, New Yorkers are also waiting for 40 blocks of new bike and bus lanes to take over Third Avenue on the Upper East Side. The project, announced last summer, join a roster of new transportation changes that city officials hope will ameliorate the local situation for all parties involved: car drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.
Will things actually get better? We’ll have to wait and see.
Yes, it is June. The temps are high, our shorts are short and we are currently at the peak of “we outside” season. But somehow, just five months from now, we will once again be in our puffy coats praying for just a bit of sunshine. Of course, we have the cushion of the holidays to get us through the colder months. But sometimes, even that’s not enough to beat the dreariness of the weather. Luckily, Leyenda is bringing back its famous holiday pop-up this month so we can have the best of both worlds.
Photograph: Shannon Sturgis | Nutcracker Old Fashioned at Sleyenda
Celebrating the wonder that is Christmas in July, Leyenda is reviving its holiday bar this month, “Sleyenda.” Returning for just one week this month, from July 15 to 21, Sleyenda plans to bring festive cheer in the form of fantastical decorations and Mariah Carey on repeat. Themed cocktails will make an appearance like the tequila-forward Coquito Ho Ho and the Nutcracker Old Fashioned. And to cool off and have some cheer while you’re at it, the frozen cachaça-based Candy Striper is a good bet. So dust off your Christmas hat and don your finest pair of shorts—the best of time of the year is apparently here.
Talk about a Thai power couple. Natwalan Limwong, the chef-owner of Southern Thai-focused Chalong in Hell’s Kitchen, is teaming up with the noodle pros behind downtown sister spots Soothr and Sappe for a brand-new restaurant concept, set to come to the Upper West Side next year.
The forthcoming Thai restaurant will reportedly be called Ung-Lo, which is also the name of the old-fashioned, charcoal-fueled stoves found throughout Thailand that give meats and more a delicious smoky char through a low-and-slow cook. According to Eater New York, Ung-Lo will revolve around the tradition of mookata, or DIY Thai barbecue and hot pot. Overseen by chef Limwong, the food menu will spotlight a variety of meats for grilling, as well as seafood and vegetables. Soothr’s cofounder and beverage director Supatta Banklouy will balance out that savoriness with a range of refreshing, Thai-accented cocktails. (Given Banklouy’s style, we’re expecting at least one delicious frozen on the drinks menu.)
For Ung-Lo, the restaurant partners have signed a lease at 35 West 64th Street off Broadway, near Lincoln Square. It’s the latest business development for the Soothr crew—along with Banklouy, owners include Chidensee Watthanawongwat, and Kitiya Mokkarat—who this January debuted Sappe (pronounced “Sep”) in Chelsea. The new Northeastern Thai restaurant continues the team’s goal of bringing lesser-known, regional Thai cooking to New York City, but there, the focus is mainly on a wide variety of charcoal-grilled skewers, from classics to marinated pork belly and grilled prawn to slightly more adventurous stuff like chicken skin, pork intestine and ox tongue.
Its sibling, Soothr, has been a favorite of Thai-food lovers since 2020. And Chalong, too, proved a very welcome addition to the city’s Thai restaurant scene when it debuted on Ninth Avenue in last year.
The U.S. national anthem was written in 1814, long before the Civil Rights movement, the World Wars and the Internet were a thing. For those reasons, and many others, some might say that the Star Spangled Banner feels outdated and not reflective of contemporary America.
That’s why the Brooklyn Public Library and Lincoln Center asked dozens of musicians to come up with an American anthem that reflects the collective hopes, struggles and histories of today’s America—and you’ll be able to hear the songs that were selected as the finalists at Lincoln Center on July 4 weekend.
More than 100 participants went through a months-long lyric writing workshop and submitted their drafts. Out of those, just three finalists were chosen and matched with world-class composers who brought their creations to life.
The three anthems will be performed live at the Lincoln Center’s Damrosch Park on July 6 starting at 8pm, an event that will be free and open to the public to attend. The winning anthem will be decided by an impressive panel of judges that includes Laurie Anderson, Sandra Cisneros, Rosanne Cash and Anthony Barfield.
In addition to the new national anthems, the concert will also feature songs that have served as bastions of hope, protest and resilience, including “Lift Every Voice and Sing”—sometimes referred to as the “Black National Anthem”—and Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come.”
Admission to the concert is first-come-first serve, so make sure to show up early to secure your spot. For more information on the concert, visit Lincoln Center’s website.
The corner of Broadway and West 112th Street is about to get more delicious: Upside Pizzaand its frosty offshoot Softside Ice Cream will each open outposts at 2878A Broadway, taking over the former Liberty House space.
Aimed at “elevating the New York slice experience,” the local pizza chain from founder Noam Grossman—which has four locations throughout NYC, including in Greenpoint, Midtown East, Nolita and the Garment District—will reportedly debut its primo pies uptown on September 1. The restaurant’s thin-crust rounds andSicilian-style rectangles feature high-quality stuff like freshly pulled mozzarella, house-made sausage and a lovingly doted upon sourdough starter.
The menu for the Morningside Heights hasn’t yet been revealed but its fellow locations offer flavor combos like sautéed mushrooms with white wine lemon cream, fresh sausage with pickled peppers (both made in house), and the seasonal Sonny Goldstein, topped with garlicky sungold tomato sauce and sourdough breadcrumbs, with prices ranging from $4 to $6 per slice and $24 to $40 per pie, so it’s safe to expect similar for the new outpost.
And along with having dinner figured out, the new corner will also have dessert taken care of, too, with a third location of Softside. (It also has parlors adjacent to Upside’s Spring Street and Manhattan Avenue pizzerias.) The concept’s light and airy ice creams can arrive as soft-serve cones (like a savory-sweet creation dressed with olive oil, honey and sea salt) or sundaes: past flavors include a strawberry shortcake situation or a hazelnut-and-hot-fudge The Bruce.
And the Morningside outpost isn’t the only new location in the works for Grossman and the pizza-making, ice cream-scooping crew: per I Love the Upper West Side, the team is already planning Upside Pizza’s sixth location on West 16th and Sixth Avenue.
At last, night market season has arrived. The annual crop of night markets seem to reward us for trudging through cold days all winter—and now enduring sweltering days not quite perfect for dining outdoors.
A bevy open-air night markets will pop up around town this summer, from the Bronx to Brooklyn and Manhattan to Queens. Plus, the Vegan Night Market and Latin Night Market are back! We’ve rounded up details on all of them, so grab some cash and make plans to eat locally—and deliciously.
Despite announcing that the Bronx Night Market would close for good, this popular market is coming back for 2024 just in a new location. Find it in Fordham Plaza on the first Saturday of each month through October.
Expect a new-and-improved Bronx Night Market that feels like a community space, with new eatery Cafe Locale right at the center of it all.
Other activities include a pop-up bookstore curated by Bronx is Reading, which will host a bunch of literary activities for folks of all ages; a new general store filled with fresh products sourced locally called Fordham Farmers Market; Bronx Native’s beloved Tiny Desk concert series; and a vegan bazaar that will promote the sort of healthy foods that the “traditional” market does not regularly pay attention to.
The massive foodie fest at Uptown Night Market is back in Harlem, running monthly into the fall. Expect more than 80 food, beverage, and merch vendors showcasing the talents of locals in the community.
The free-to-attend outdoor event series runs on the second Thursday of the month now through October. Find the all-ages event at 133rd and 12th Avenue in West Harlem.
This super popular event draws a crowd of 15,000 people time after time for foods like Mexican-style hot dogs, tacos, empanadas, shish kebabs, and lots more.
It’s hard to get good food on the cheap, but for seven years, Queens Night Market has prided itself on offering the city’s best eats for just $5-6.
The foodie festival runs on Saturday nights through the summer at the New York Hall of Science in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. New this year: The event will open at 4pm, an hour earlier than it has in the past and will include even more vendors than usual.
There will also be other items sale besides food, including vintage apparel, handmade jewelry, ceramic products, locally produced art pieces, crochet toys, stationery, and much more.
In its existence, the market has attracted over 2 million visitors, helped launch 350 new businesses in New York and represented more than 90 countries through its vendors and their food. In 2022, the event averaged over 15,000 attendees each Saturday night.
Newer to the night market scene, the Brooklyn Night Market quickly grew a devoted following, attracting thousands to Industry City for an open-air food and drink festival. The market is back for 2024 on the last Monday of each month from April to October.
Dine around with an extensive selection of cuisines from around the world, as well as live music and other activities. The event strives to celebrate the diverse food and vibrant culture in New York City. In the market’s third season, expect more than 65 vendors producing dishes and libations from all corners of the world.
The market “stands as a testament to the borough’s culinary prowess, creating a space where residents and visitors alike can savor the essence of Brooklyn’s dynamic and ever-evolving gastronomic scene,” event organizers say.
Find it at Industry City, 36th Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenue.
Romaine calm: The Vegan Night Market is coming back to Manhattan! The Vegan Night Market first launched in 2023, and it quickly gained a following of plant-powered eaters. Now it’s coming back to Manhattan once again, starting on May 7 and running on the first Tuesday of the month through October at Columbus Circle.
You’ll get the chance to taste vegan foods from a variety of local vendors while listening to live music in a crowd of like-minded folks. Whether you’re a seasoned vegan or curious about trying some plant-based meals, all are welcome.
Find the Vegan Night Market every Tuesday through October from 12-8pm. It’s free to enter. The market’s hosted by Masc Hospitality Group (MHG), which runs several other night markets around town.
This newly announced night market joins in with Lincoln Center’s Summer for the City programming. The “outdoor food emporium” is open every night from Wednesdays through Sundays starting at 5pm through 10pm. The market will be in place now through August 10, excluding July 4.
A number of vendors have already been announced, including Harlem Seafood Soul (lobster rolls! Waffle skewers! Mac and cheese bites!), Japanese purveyor Yakitori Totto, Mexican destination Maya’s Snack Bar, Haitian restaurant Bunnan and Cocotazo, a Puerto Rican eatery.
Photograph: Shutterstock
Union Square Night Market
Thursdays, July 11-August 1
This new open-air market will run for four Thursdays at Union Square Park’s South Plaza, starting July 11 and stretching through August 1. It will be presented by Urbanspace, the same folks who puts on the square’s Holiday Market each year, so you already know that they know what they’re doing.
Though a full food vendor lineup is still to come, the Union Square Night Market by UrbanSpace will feature the tasty wares of 20 independent and local vendors.
Dedicated to the cuisine and culture of the Latin diaspora, this event kicked off last year with near 20,000 fans. It’s back for 2024 in the Dyckman area with to showcase South and Central American cultures offer. Expect a lineup of 50 vendors offering a diverse array of Latin flavors, plus a festive musical lineup.
“The Latin Night Market is more than an event; it’s a celebration of diversity, community, and the vibrant tapestry of Latin culture,” event organizers say.
There’s just one remaining date for this market—Friday, October 18—so don’t miss it. The event occurs in Uptown Manhattan on Dyckman Street between Dyckman Plaza and Inwood Park.
Time Out Market New York is buzzing with activity, from phenomenal food and drinks to fun parties to keep you rolling through the warmer months.
The market has an ongoing happy hour from 4 to 7pm during the week (what’s not to love about $6 select draught beers, $9 specialty cocktails and $8 select wines?) but another happy hour every day at its Wine Cave (read on to find out when), but there’s much more going on this winter.
The market has a dailyBottomless Brunch! For $55, you’ll receive a $35 TOM Card toward the meal of your choice from the market’s concessions and you can choose from Bottomless mimosas and bellinis from noon to 3pm.
The Market has turned one of its little nooks into a wine bar, replete with a few dozen varieties. The intimate cave-like space seats about 30 and boasts nearly 40 bottles of red, white and rosé on the menu as well as freshly sliced charcuterie for boards and sandwiches and Raclette heated on demand. Enjoy a “happy hour” through March, between 11am and 10pm, when you can get 10% off all wine, 50% off all charcuterie and cheese plates.
On Mondays, you can learn hands-on how to make your own egg roll with The Rogue Panda, one of Time Out New York’s newest vendors. Every other Monday, the chefs at The Rogue Panda will lead visitors through the process of making an egg roll.
This weekly event on Mondays, powered by Remy Martin, is for networking New Yorkers who want to connect with like-minded people over good food, drinks and music. From 6 to 7pm, get two-for-one drinks and enjoy signature cocktails like the Remy Punch, the Remy Martin VSOP (amaretto, orange, pineapple, lime and grenadine), Between The Sheets, and the Remy Martin 1738 (Cointreau, rum and lemon).
Every Thursday from 6-9pm on the fifth floor of the Market, instructor Marlene Veras will lead you through the steps to beats by percussionist Ronnie Roc for a solid foundation before you break out into a full-on salsa dance party with tunes from DJ Ray Suave. It’s free!
Enjoy a relaxing and fun Friday night out at Time Out Market’s fifth-floor rooftop bar, where you can play board games and foosball with friends and drink specialty cocktails like the Cranberry Cooler, and tastings courtesy of Jim Beam. There will also be sports and movies broadcast on the market’s projector screen and a lineup of resident DJs to keep the night buzzing. It launches Friday, October 7, and happens each Friday from 6 to 10pm.
If you want a fun night out, come out for Latin Mix Saturdays. From 7 to 10pm every Saturday, Ronnie Roc & DJ Torres will provide tunes to dance to. Special drinks will be available at the Time Out Market Bar to cool you down and spice things up between noon and 5pm, including specials like the Rum Punch Pouch ($12), the Very Berry Sangria ($12) and Modelo Drafts ($6).
