By 2026, the Battery in downtown Manhattan is going to look pretty different, courtesy of the $200 million, city-funded Battery Coastal Resilience project that broke ground earlier this week.
Part of a larger effort that seeks to protect the area from climate change-related issues—think storm surges and rising sea levels, among others—the project involves the rebuilding and raising of the wharf promenade in the Battery, which was originally constructed by in the 1940s.
“The Battery Coastal Resilience project will help protect Lower Manhattan from the stronger storms that climate change is bringing while ensuring that New Yorkers can still enjoy the beautiful green space and cultural icons that The Battery has come to be known for,” said Mayor Eric Adams in an official statement.
Rendering: Courtesy of Courtesy of NYC Parks
But, there’s more: the above-mentioned plans are being carried forward alongside a separate initiative, the South Battery Park City Resiliency project, that will also change the look of the neighborhood.
The latter effort will help create an integrated coastal flood risk management system along the northern border of Battery Park all the way to the Museum of Jewish Heritage. For that to happen, authorities will build an entirely new Wagner Park and surrounding pavilion, lifting the 3.5-acre destination by about ten feet and adding a new restaurant and community space to the on-site activations.
Rendering: Courtesy of Courtesy of NYC Parks
Last week, the city actually released a request for proposals (RFP) for the new eatery.
According to the document, those in charge are looking for prospective restaurant operators whose “price points are aligned with and responsive to a diverse clientele,” who are looking to serve “high-quality, healthy food options” within operating hours that are “compatible with the neighborhood’s character” and who will make an effort not to disturb surrounding folks with loud noises or foul odors.
Time-wise, officials are hoping that both the revamped park and the new restaurant will open by the spring of 2025.
The Battery Coastal Resilience project and the South Battery Park City Resiliency project are part of the larger Lower Manhattan Coastal Resiliency project, which will cost the city about $1.7 billion and also includes the Brooklyn Bridge-Montgomery Coastal Resilience and the Easy Side Coastal Resiliency project.
Clearly, the city is making an effort to step up our coastal infrastructure. Here’s to hoping New Yorkers will do their part in mitigating the effects of climate change as well.
Did you know that how many pillows you sleep with is directly correlated to how much pain your body feels daily?
That’s one of the many things you’ll likely learn when joining Continuum, the new members-only wellness club set to open at 676 Greenwich Street near Christopher Street in the West Village on May 15.
The focus on factual education is at the core of the destination’s ethos, one that champions well-being over all else and hopes to achieve just that through the use of the AI-powered software that it employs to create personal plans for each member.
If it all sounds very high-tech and expensive, that is because, well, it is: the membership fee to Continuum runs about $10,000 a month, granting folks access to the space’s top-notch gym, personal and physical trainers, saunas, treatment rooms, lounge, nap pod and more.
Rendering: Courtesy of Continuum
Given the interest in the concept and the solid cohort of people that have already signed up for the program, one thing is clear: New Yorkers have recently doubled down on their pandemic-era pledge to their healthier selves—no matter the cost.
“In the realm of health, the fundamentals of nutrition, exercise, and recovery are well-established science, yet the application remains elusive,” said CEO Jeff Halevy in an official statement. “We’ve been handed tools without a blueprint, leaving us to navigate the complexities of wellness alone. Our vision is to break down these silos, creating a cohesive ecosystem where meticulously collected data contributes to a deeper understanding of oneself. What we’re building is more than a luxury wellness club; Continuum is a totally integrated platform driven by the power of AI and individual biometrics, ensuring that health is both intentional and quantifiable.”
Photograph: Courtesy of Continuum
As mentioned by Halevy, Continuum operates as more than a straightforward gym: members, which will never exceed the cap of 250 in total, will undergo a series of tests and exams (think body composition scans, sleep analysis, blood panels and more) so that the club’s AI software could develop what actually amounts to a personal “prescription” that includes exercise not only regiments and dietary guidelines but also suggestions for specific therapies and services, which will be offered on-site as well.
The opulence of the offerings mirrors the business’ physical 25,000-square-foot flagship: plaster walls, modern decor, curated artworks, top-notch lighting fixtures and equipment made Continuum one of the swankiest wellness centers in the country.
Rendering: Courtesy of Continuum
“A lot of people who are big in recovery spaces find that there is no place that ties that to exercise regime and gives me all the knowledge,” chief revenue officer Tom Wingert said to Time Out. “So not only do they have to go to two places to find what they’re looking for but they can’t speak to anyone who may offer guidance on both recovery and exercise. This place does both.”
Clearly passionate about the business and what it stands for, Wingert hopes to eventually open similar clubs around the country—starting with, perhaps, Miami and Los Angeles, where locals seem to share in on New Yorkers’ interest for anything that may prolong youth—but also make the AI software that powers Continuum available “a la carte.” Whether that will come along with a $10,000 price tag as well is yet to be seen.
If it seems like forever ago since you last noticed miniature boats floating over Central Park’s Conservatory Water pond, that’s because the tiny crafts have not graced the body of water in five years.
But now, for the first time after the pandemic, New Yorkers can once again sail the iconic remote-controlled vessels at the park: model boat sailing is officially back!
Rocking the Boat, a non-profit based in the Bronx that teaches teenagers how to build life-size boats for sailing on Long Island Sound, is behind the relaunch of the beloved activity, reports the New York Times.
According to Central Park’s own website, model boating is a tradition that is just as central to the character of the city as the park itself, with towns across the world also partaking in the pastime, including at Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris.
A word on Conservatory Water, the pond where the boats float in: first made famous by E.B. White in his beloved 1945 children’s novel Stuart Little, which was adapted to a movie in 1999, the area is named after a large greenhouse of glass and metal that the city had planned to build but never finished. Originally, the pond was meant to reflect the greenhouse. Now, the body of water is known for turning into an ice skating rink during the winter, when the water freezes all the way through, and for its model boat racing, which attracts children from all over the city, during warmer months.
You can rent the model boats, which are built by members of Rocking the Boat, for $15 for a 30-minute session. If you decide to bring your own miniature boat, you’ll need to secure a $15 permit from the city’s parks department.
The upper crust of New York City society and all of the most relevant celebrities are preparing for their night on the red carpet at the annual Met Gala, but last night, The People’s Ball held court.
Last year, we named it the best nightlife event of 2023, and for good reason! Unlike the invitation-only event at the Met Museum tonight, the People’s Ball is open to all—and for free—at the Brooklyn Public Library. And on Sunday night, everyone was allowed to show off their best looks.
As the Library states, “the People’s Ball declares that the pinnacle of fashion is found in the everyday New Yorker!”
The event was co-curated by Harlem icon Souleo, actress Delissa Reynolds and celebrity stylist Robert Verdi and featured a performance from drag icon Kevin Aviance, music from DJ Spinna and a tribute to New York Times fashion and street photographer Bill Cunningham on what would’ve been his 95th birthday with a catwalk featuring a group of his former models: Lauren Ezersky, Jean Stone, Lana Turner and Amy Collins.
“The People’s Ball has become one of Brooklyn’s rituals of spring,” said László Jakab Orsós, Vice President of Arts and Culture at Brooklyn Public Library. “Last night, hundreds of people from every corner of the borough and from every walk of life showed off their stellar outfits and unique personalities on a runway in the middle of the public library. This event celebrates the true spirit of democracy and reminds us that fashion and creativity belong to everyone, and you really don’t need much to be a relevant part of it – just imagination, inspiration, courage, and a zest for life, values that we all deeply believe in at the library.”
Below, see 10 of the most fabulous fits from the People’s Ball (and you can see 2023’s looks here).
1. A Gold leaf suit
Photograph: Adrian Bacolo, courtesy of the Brooklyn Public Library
2. An all-denim dress
Photograph: Adrian Bacolo, courtesy of the Brooklyn Public Library
3. Power in gold
Photograph: Adrian Bacolo, courtesy of the Brooklyn Public Library
4. The best hat of the night
Photograph: Adrian Bacolo, courtesy of the Brooklyn Public Library
5. A clear message
Photograph: Adrian Bacolo, courtesy of the Brooklyn Public Library
6. A floral arrangement
Photograph: Adrian Bacolo, courtesy of the Brooklyn Public Library
7. The People’s princess
Photograph: Adrian Bacolo, courtesy of the Brooklyn Public Library
8. Brooklyn fashion trio
Photograph: Adrian Bacolo, courtesy of the Brooklyn Public Library
9. Paper plumes
Photograph: Adrian Bacolo, courtesy of the Brooklyn Public Library
10. Call 911, she’s on fire
Photograph: Adrian Bacolo, courtesy of the Brooklyn Public Library
Fresh sushi and a shopping session? It’s possible at Hōseki, the six-seat, modern omakase spot located, awesomely, in the jewelry department of Saks Fifth Avenue. But now the experience is getting even more exclusive with a private dining option, available only to those who have frequented the midtown sushi restaurant before.
Only those who have previously enjoyed the regular omakase dinner at Hōseki will be able to reserve the exclusive private dinner (hey, it pays to be a regular!), which is a great birthday party idea or special occasion soiree, amping up the usual 11-course omakase prix fixe ($95) for a whopping 17 courses overseen by sushi chef Morgan Adamson, who was trained in the raw-fish discipline at Kissaki. While the regular menu at the sushi den is lunch-only, served Wednesdays through Sundays from noon to 4pm each week, the private dining omakase can be reserved after-hours for $250 per person.
Simply follow the escalators down to the Saks Fifth Avenue jewelry vault, take a left and you’ll find Hōseki hidden like a true sushi speakeasy behind dark grey curtains, where you and your hungry group can enjoy a selection of otsumami (Japan’s salty bar snacks), fresh nigiri and hand rolls, as well as a sesame Rice Krispies sweet for dessert. Among the nigiri offerings, you’ll find dishes like spot prawn with cured quail egg and union, amberjack with soy salt, and cured fluke with yuzu salt.
On the beverage side of things, there will be a selection of sakes to enjoy alongside your nigiri, such as Seikyo Takehara Junmai and Soto Sake Junmai Daijinjo, as well as non-alcoholic drinks like Kimino Yuzu Sparkling Juice and Yame Black Tea Spritz.
Check out photos of the subterranean Hōseki space as well as several of Chef Adamson’s raw-fish creations below:
Charlie ChalklinHoseki at Saks Fifth AvenuePhotograph: Charlie Chalklin | Hoseki at Saks Fifth AvenuePhotograph: Charlie Chalklin | Morgan Adamson at HosekiPhotograph: Charlie Chalklin | Hoseki at Saks Fifth Avenue
When an artist creates a painting, their intention is for us to look at it. Not to listen or smell or, god forbid, touch it. But when a designer makes a piece of clothing, the intention is different, the Metropolitan Museum of Art‘s Director Max Hollein says. Yes, the outfit is meant to be admired visually, but it’s also expected to be touched by the wearer who imbues the piece with their own scent and creates sound as the garment moves on their body.
Though the latest exhibit from the Met’s Costume Institute mounts dresses upon the museum’s walls, it doesn’t treat them as stagnant, framed objects. Instead, “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” takes a multi-sensory approach allowing visitors to smell, touch, and hear the clothing, not just look at it. With more than 200 garments from the 1600s to today, the exhibition is the largest and most ambitious in the Costume Institute’s history in terms of range and scope.
Here are six things to expect from the exhibit, which runs May 10-September 2 after The Costume Institute Benefit (a.k.a. The Met Gala) tonight.
Photograph: Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
1. New life for ‘sleeping beauties’
The Costume Institute at the Met maintains a collection of 33,000 garments, but some are so fragile, they can’t even be put on a mannequin for display. Instead, these pieces, called “sleeping beauties,” lie flat beneath panes of glass. In the exhibition, the Met found ways to reanimate them.
For example, an ornate 1887 ball gown with glittering beadwork and pale green satin has deteriorated so much that it cannot be restored. However, a video animation reimagines what the dress would have looked like on a woman dancing through a ballroom.
Photograph: Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art | Butterfly-inspired dresses.
2. A natural twist
Nature serves as a throughline in the exhibition, showcasing poppies, roses, birds, and insects as inspirations for designers.
“In many ways, nature serves as the ultimate metaphor for fashion with rebirth, renewal, and simplicity but also its ephemerality,” The Costume Institute’s Curator Andrew Bolton explained.
Garments self-destruct and become fragile, much like the processes we see in the natural world. But the exhibit resuscitates their stories.
Taking a fresh approach to fashion’s overlapping ethos with nature, don’t miss the “grass coat” by LOEWE’s creative director Jonathan Anderson. The navy blue wool coat decorated with real oat, rye, and wheatgrass is now alive, but it will slowly die over the course of the exhibition. An accompanying timelapse video shows the complete cycle from germination to death as a way to explore fashion’s ephemerality.
Photograph: Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
3. Sniffable surprises
If you’ve ever borrowed a hoodie from a boyfriend or a jacket from a relative, then you inherently know that clothing holds smells that are unique to the wearer. We tend not to think about those smells when it comes to museum garments, but these flaunted fashions also hold aromas, sometimes dating back decades.
To reawaken these clothes through smell, the team from Sissel Tolaas Studio extracted scent molecules from the fabrics, then used a microfilter to trap the air and moisture. Eventually, they analyzed the molecules to identify and replicate the smells. Some of the smells you’ll find include odors found in tobacco, bitter drinks, high-end skin products, roses, polluted environments, and toothpaste. The technology is so advanced, that it even determined aromas associated with human hair and human skin that had been in contact with a dog.
In several installations, you’ll sniff the aromas through tubing, while in another you can gently rub the wall to release the aroma, as if the wall is human skin.
Photograph: Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
4. A chance to touch the famed Miss Dior dress
The Met’s typically a ’no-touch’ kind of place, but you’ll get a chance to experience the feeling of Christian Dior’s famed Miss Dior dress. A 3D-printed plastic replica of the floral dress offers a chance to feel the shape of the flowers. Visitors are also welcome to touch the black patterned wallpaper behind the replica, which was created from the flowers embroidered on Raf Simons’s interpretation of the “Miss Dior” dress.
Photograph: Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
5. Stirring audio installations
The ears don’t get much love at a typical fashion exhibit. Maybe you’ll hear some quiet music in the background, but it’s certainly not a focal point. Curators here, however, thought about how audio components could complement the visual elements.
In a display featuring poppies in fashion, from Isaac Mizrahi’s “Exploded Poppy” dress to Viktor & Rolf’s multi-hued poppy piece, a recording of the 1915 poem “In Flanders Fields” plays through speakers. The poem, read by Morgan Spector, praises the courage and mourns the sacrifice of soldiers who died on the Western Front during World War I.
In another room exploring Romantic artists’ fascination with the mermaid, you’ll learn about how fashion designers created glittering pieces that created sounds like gentle waves.
Photograph: Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
6. A dazzling Depression-era wedding gown with a modern twist
You may not know the name Natalie Potter now, but if you were alive in the 1930s, you likely would have. This New York socialite’s wedding to financier William Conkling Ladd on December 4, 1930, was such a glamorous affair that the bride’s wedding photo was published in Harper’s Bazaar.
The dress was at once dramatic with its cathedral-length train, yet devoid of beading or other embellishments due to the Depression-era sentimentality. Its design draws upon the waistless, androgynous silhouette of the 1920s and the more feminine aesthetic of the 1930s.
To bring to life Potter’s wedding, the Met worked with OpenAI (the creators of Chat GPT) to build an interactive platform where you chat with Potter through AI. You can ask her questions about her wedding, her outfit, and her life in the 1930s — putting a very 2024 spin on a 94-year-old dress.
