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New York rolls deep with Michelin-recommended restaurants—as of last year, the Big Apple boasted more than 400 Michelin Guide restaurants, with 71-starred eateries throughout the city. And the list is only growing, with eight more NYC newcomers joining the guide’s prestigious ranks. 

RECOMMENDED: The 50 best restaurants in NYC right now include dazzling newcomers and familiar faves

Joining a previously announced batch of New York spots that joined the Michelin Guide earlier this spring, this month’s entries reflect the wide range of New York City cuisine: there’s pricey Korean fried chicken courtesy of Coqodaq, progressive Mexican fare from Corima and stunning south Indian plates from Kanyakumari in the mix. 

While inclusion in the Michelin Guide is enough cause for celebration, that shouldn’t be confused with receiving a Michelin star. Simply, the eight restaurants have been added to the Michelin Guide, a series of guidebooks that have been published by the eponymous French tire company for nearly 125 years. Michelin Guide inspectors travel anonymously all across the country all year round to pick out the creme of the culinary crop and adding them to MICHELIN’s “Recommended” selection. That said, the NYC additions could earn Bib Gourmand distinctions or Star awards in the future. 

Check out the full list of the latest New York additions to the 2024 MICHELIN Guide below:

Café Carmellini
Inside the Fifth Avenue Hotel, Andrew Carmellini returns to fine dining with contemporary cooking that marries s Italian and French tradition: think crab mille-feuille, sweet-pea tarts and squab en croute. 

Coqodaq
From the Cote team, this splashy Korean restaurant features a standout bucket of gluten-free fried chicken that you can fancy up with house-made sauces, cold perilla seed noodle and, of course, caviar. 

Corima
Chef Fidel Caballero (Contra) taps into the traditions and techniques of his hometown in Northern Mexico for this Allen Street tasting-menu spot, serving progressive plates like smoked swordfish tamal, potato udon noodles with cornhusk dashi and a reimagined chocolate flan. 

Four Twenty Five
Jonathan Benno and Jean-Georges Vongerichten collaborated for this elegant Midtown dining room, which turns out heavily seasonal dishes like chicken encrusted in black truffle breadcrumbs and steamed black bass with winter mushrooms.

Foxface Natural
A follow-up to the acclaimed sandwich spot, this East Village eatery is eclectic and experimental with what comes out of its kitchen. For example, hiramasa is given the pastrami treatment, with horseradish and rye crisp, and the meat in that tartare served with warm spices and Sardinian flatbread isn’t classic beef but, of all things, kangaroo. 

Kanyakumari
This lively spot from restaurateur Salil Mehta (Laut, Wau, Kebab aur Sharab) and chef Dipesh Shinde trails the South Indian coast with dishes like mussels Koliwada, chili-spiked fish curry and slow-cooked Black Gold beef. 

Tolo
Chef Ron Yan churns out refined versions of Chinese comforts like salt-and-pepper tofu with chili aioli, sweet-and-sour crispy fish and Typhoon Shelter-style chicken, with a killer wine list to boot. 

Vert Frais
The Long Island City noodle joint serves exceptionally satisfying slurpers, from a classic shio to a darker sho-yu and an asari clam bowl. 

* This article was originally published here

If you’re someone who checks five times that you have your wallet and keys on you before walking out the door just to then reach for your wallet when you need it and discover it’s not there (guilty) you’re now in luck–New Yorkers can now have a digital version of their ID.

Governor Kathy Hochul officially announced on Tuesday, June 11th that the NY State DMV has launched the New York Mobile ID (MiD), a digital version of your state-issued driver license, learner permit, or ID accessible right on your phone.

Even better–the MiD will be accepted at TSA security checkpoints at nearly 30 participating airports across the country, including all terminals at LaGuardia and JFK airports, so if you forget your wallet while running out the door (late) to the airport you may not actually miss your flight because you won’t need to take out your physical ID or even show a boarding pass!

All of the attributes on your physical ID, such as your document type, class, and other attributes like organ donor status, veteran status, and lifetime hunting or fishing permits will all be available in the New York MiD app.

How to Get a New York Mobile ID

Anyone who has a valid, state-issued driver license, learner permit, or non-driver ID can easily get their hands on their New York Mobile ID in a few simple steps:

1. Download the New York MiD app from the App Store or through Google Play

2. Register the phone number of the device your Mobile ID will be on (you can only have your MiD on one device at a time)

3. Take a picture of the front and back of your physical ID using your phone camera

4. Pose for a selfie–the app checks your photo and ID against information on file with the DMV to ensure you are who you say you are

5. Once your information is verified, your MiD is active and ready to use wherever accepted!

A step-by-step video guide on how to enroll can be found below:

Beyond being more convenient, the MiD is also a safer alternative to using your physical ID.

DMV spokesperson Lisa Koumjian stated:

[If] you lose your phone, your mobile ID is completely protected. You have to enter either a six-digit ID that you set up, or you can unlock it with your face or your fingerprint, face ID or touch ID.

Plus, once more restaurants and bars begin accepting the MiD they’ll be able to verify your age when needed without you having to hand over an ID that shows your home address.

“Not only will New Yorkers be able to quickly display their IDs, but they will have control over the personal information they share,” said Hochul.

The Mobile ID is a voluntary product designed for the convenience and security of New Yorkers. However, not all businesses are currently accepting MiDs so you should always continue to carry your physical driver’s license or ID whenever possible.

The post This Digital Card May Soon Replace Your Physical ID appeared first on Secret NYC.

* This article was originally published here

In a recent statement, Governor Kathy Hochul emphasized the importance of being “air quality aware” in New York this summer. Believe it or not, it was this time last year (June 2023) when wildfire smoke from Canada drifted south and shadowed NYC in smog. And according to experts, the occasional hazy skies could become the new norm for NYC with recent climate change concerns.

So leet’s get into the why and how to be air quality aware this season:

How is air quality measured?

The Air Quality Index (AQI) is used to measure air quality based off of present air pollutants on a scale from 0 to 500. When NYC was declared as having the worst air quality in the world last year it was at an AQI level of 342. A good AQI level is anywhere between 0-50. Today’s AQI (June 12, 2024) in NYC is 34.

Why will it be important to be “air quality aware”?

As summer approaches, it will be important to remain aware of the air quality levels in NYC following the ongoing wildfires in Canada. According to Sean Mahar, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Interim Commissioner, “New Yorkers should expect to see elevated ozone levels at least a few more times this summer.”

How can you check the daily air quality in NYC?

Residents can check the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s website for daily status updates on the city’s air quality or go to airnow.gov. Moreover, most weather apps include AQI levels. You could also sign up to receive air quality updates from DEC.

What to do if the air quality is poor?

It is advised that when air quality is poor to stay indoors, utilize public transit, get an air purifier, reduce emissions, and wear a mask if you must go outdoors.

The post Why Air Quality Awareness Should Be A Priority For New Yorkers This Summer appeared first on Secret NYC.

* This article was originally published here

You may have been covering your eyes every time Jason walked into scene while watching Friday the 13th, but as a New Yorker we were focusing on something else entirely: the diner featured in the movie. And, as it turns out, that diner is just a short trip from NYC!

Just about an hour drive from NYC is Blairstown Diner, an old-school, small town diner that’s not only been flipping pancakes for locals and visitors since opening in the ’40s, but also attracting horror movie fans after playing host to a scene from the classic horror film Friday the 13th.

And though it has gained the reputation of being the scariest diner in New Jersey, the only thing actually scary here is how good the food is.

Blairstown Diner is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, offering all the typical fare you’ve come to associate with a classic diner, from any style eggs and pancakes to hamburgers and hot dogs. And of course you have to get yourself a classic milkshake!

As for the diner itself, Only In Your State writes that it’s remained largely unchanged since first opening in the 1949, and diners can actually sit in the same seats that appeared in the horror film 30 years later! 

And of course you will catch a glimpse of Jason here, but thankfully only in photo form!

Though he didn’t actually appear in the first movie he’s essentially become the diner’s mascot–photos of him can be found throughout the space, a cardboard cutout of him greets you at the entrance, and you may even cross paths with someone dressed like him if you head there for a meal on Friday the 13th!

You can even purchase a souvenir hat or t-shirt on your way out.

Only In Your State said it best: “When you come to this classic rural North Jersey diner, you’re not just getting good food – you’re stepping into a piece of horror movie history.”

You can learn more about Blairstown Diner on their website here.

53 NJ Route 94, Blairstown, NJ 07825

1 hour 15 min drive

The post The Diner Featured In ‘Friday The 13th’ Is Only 1 Hour From NYC appeared first on Secret NYC.

* This article was originally published here

Master thespian Jay O. Sanders (Purlie Victorious) will play the central role of Dr. Thomas Stockmann, who discovers dangerous bacteria in his spa town’s water. Murray will play his brother, the town’s mayor, who tries to silence his findings; Taylor Schilling (Orange Is the New Black) and Kathryn Erbe (Law & Order: Criminal Intent) will play the doctor’s daughter and wife, respectively. Veteran stage actors Peter Francis James, Zach Grenier and Enid Graham are also in the company. So is Nate Smith—one of the activists who disrupted the Broadway performance in March—as well as New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and the longtime Washington Post drama critic Peter Marks. (The cast will also include, in a suitably small role, another theater reviewer: me, Time Out‘s own Adam Feldman.)

* This article was originally published here

New Yorkers will have even more departure options for their trips this fall, as JetBlue announces its plans to begin servicing Long Island MacArthur Airport come October 2024. The airline already operates out of New York’s JFK, LaGuardia and Newark Airport.

“As New York’s Hometown Airline for more than 24 years and the only major U.S. airline based in New York City, JetBlue’s expansion onto Long Island underscores its commitment to enhancing connectivity for New Yorkers.,” shares JetBlue in a press release.

Flights out of Long Island MacArthur Airport will be Florida-bound, landing at destinations including Orlando International Airport (MCO), Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) and Palm Beach International Airport (PBI).

The new flight schedule, which will launch in October, will be as follows: 

“We have all worked hard to ensure Long Island travelers have more choices for nonstop destinations. Our hometown airport is convenient, has efficient security lines, and provides an overall stress-free travel experience. Long Islanders have waited for New York’s hometown airline, JetBlue, for 24 years, and this is a great day for our community and MacArthur Airport!” said Shelley LaRose-Arken, Long Island MacArthur Airport commissioner.

In celebration of the upcoming service, JetBlue is offering unbeatable prices on the new flight routes with $49 one-way fares. You can explore them online here.

The post JetBlue To Debut $49 Flights Out Of Long Island This Fall appeared first on Secret NYC.

* This article was originally published here

Union Square Partnership is gearing up for a wonderful summer, jam-packed with free movie screenings, activities for kids, fitness classes and more through its Summer in the Square (SITS) series. The highly-anticipated program will officially begin on Thursday, June 20th with the return of CityPickle, offering four bookable courts on park grounds.

“Union Square Partnership is thrilled to bring back Summer in the Square to the park. Union Square is the perfect place to experience the best of New York City with friends, co-workers, family, and visitors. Each summer, Union Square Partnership is proud to create programming that fosters community, vibrancy, and even a little friendly pickleball competition,” said Julie Stein, Executive Director, Union Square Partnership. “With more New Yorkers living, working, and playing in Union Square, we are looking forward to a record-breaking summer.”

But beyond Summer in the Square’s regular programming, Union Square will host its first-ever Night Market by Urbanspace. Union Square is no stranger to Urbanspace, as the company is responsible for putting on the park’s beloved annual Holiday Market. However, this will be the first time Urbanspace will operate an open-air food market during summer nights.

The Union Square Night Market will run for four Thursdays, starting July 11th. More than 20 vendors will come together to bring New Yorkers some of the best bites in the city. It will all take place along the South Plaza of Union Square Park.

So whether you’re interested in grabbing something to eat on your summer commute home or planning a date night, the Union Square Night Market will serve as the perfect venue for either! And while you’re there, be sure to check out the massive, technicolor street mural taking over 14th Street.

The post Union Square Will Host Its First-Ever Night Market By Urbanspace This Summer appeared first on Secret NYC.

* This article was originally published here