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There are now over 1,200 baby diaper changing tables in NYC public bathrooms
When you need a changing table, you really need one. And now, it’ll be easier to find one in NYC.
Officials just announced that there are now diaper-changing tables available in more than 1,200 public restrooms that are under the purview of the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation.
What’s more, the installation of all the stations was completed three years ahead of the legislative deadline.
“All parents and caregivers know that when your child’s diaper needs changing, having a clean and safe space is the bottom line,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue in an official statement about the news. “We recognize that baby changing stations are a vital amenity for parents looking to keep their little ones happy and healthy, which is why we have made diaper changing stations available in more than 1,200 park restrooms.”
The project has been a long time coming: in 2020, the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation took a close look at all of their public restrooms and “determined that only 37% of the roughly 1,300 restrooms under our care offered changing tables,” reads an official press release. Considering that, according to a citywide survey, 73% of New Yorkers are within a 10-minute walk of a Parks public restroom, the situation called for immediate rectification.
In 2023, Local Law 56 passed, requiring the installation of baby changing tables in every restroom located inside a city park when possible (the guidelines don’t apply to repeatedly vandalized locations and others lacking sufficient wall space, for example). At the moment, 90% of bathrooms boast the feature.
As for specific product details: the tables are moisture resistant and ADA compliant, made with a high-density polyethylene interior and brushed stainless steel exterior. Important note: they can sustain weights of up to 250 pounds, so caregivers will be able to place their diaper bags on them as well.
Whether in need of a baby changing station or not, you might want to bookmark the full list of restrooms in parks right here. You never know when you might have to quickly consult it.
The New York City Food & Wine Festival is moving to Brooklyn!
When it returns to New York on October 17 to 20, the beloved Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival (NYCWFF) is going to take up residence in Brooklyn. For the first time ever, all of the festival’s main events—from the Grand Tasting to pier parties—will take place at a single location: a new 450,000-square-foot culinary campus that will debut at Brooklyn Army Terminal in Sunset Park.
“We’re incredibly excited to expand our footprint to Brooklyn and offer our most attended events at one culinary campus,” said festival founder and director Lee Brian Schrager in an official statement ab out the news. “We are pleased to offer the same festival you know and love to more guests at our new location. We look forward to welcoming more Brooklyn chefs and partners to this year’s events and further providing them with a platform to showcase their impeccable talent.”
The celebration of the borough begins as soon as the festival kicks off with a Best of Brooklyn event that will showcase over 25 area chefs.
As has always been the case in the past—this is the festival’s 17th annual iteration—the event will supposed God’s Love We Deliver, the local organization that helps deliver meals to sick New Yorkers in need.
Pre-sale tickets will be available for purchase starting June 17 at 9am right here. General public passes will be available the week after, on June 24 at 9am, on that same website.
Cheers! The 7th annual New York Rum Festival is coming to Greenpoint
If there’s one liquor that screams summer, it’s rum—from the best daiquiris in New York City to tropical tiki bar cocktails, a rum-splashed drink instantly conjures up images of sun, surf and sand. So it’s good timing then that the New York Rum Festival is coming back for its 7th edition, taking place next month on Saturday, June 8, at 100 Sutton Studios in Greenpoint. (Fun fact: did you know that New York State is one of the largest consumers of rum in the U.S.? We believe it!)
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Hosted by The Rum Lab, this year’s spirited edition will invite both industry pros and rum enthusiasts alike to immerse themselves in the world of rum with samplings of over 160 expressions from around the globe, including Fiji, Spain, Martinique, Belize and more. A highlight of the boutique-style event will be the on-site portfolio of Rums of Puerto Rico, plus the new expressions by Rhum Barbancourt from Haiti and Planteray Rum from Barbados (previously Plantation Rum).
Along with discovering—and sipping, with four separate tasting sessions throughout the day kicking off at 1:30pm—rare and exotic varieties of the summery liquor, you can learn about the latest trends and developments in the industry and attend seminars on topics like “The Importance of Puerto Rican Rum for the Spirits Industry,” “Transcontinental Aging” and “French Heritage.” “This is an incredible opportunity for rum enthusiasts and industry professionals to come together to learn, network, and discover the latest trends in the world of rum,” said the event producer Federico Hernandez.
Tickets start at $75 and are available in tiers based on Industry, General Admission and VIP ticket options. If you’re really a true rum lover, the VIP Rum Experts Session will allow you to enjoy a five-hour admission, exclusive Rum Lab swag, premium tastings, and the ability to attend consumer seminars. The Trade Industry session offers industry professionals a discounted ticket with the opportunity to network, taste premium rums, attend trade-focused seminars, and more. You can snap up your ticket of choice at the New York Rum Festival website.